Rory McIlroy Shares Tied Top Spot As He Closes In On DP World Tour Championship
The Northern Irish golfer secured five under-par scores in his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Third-Round Standings
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spa), L Canter (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Notable scores: -11 L Aberg (Sweden), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Sco); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (England)
Rory McIlroy secured three under-par scores in the final five holes to move into the joint lead at the tournament finale and close in on his seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
McIlroy carded a four-under-par 68 in the United Arab Emirates, during a round featuring five birdies with one bogey to climb to 13 under, along with Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Laurie Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) along with Hatton (67) sit at 12-under-par, along with Spain's Ayora (67) and Denmark's Hojgaard (65).
"Overall, a challenging round," commented the golfer. "The conditions were tricky enough but pleased to shoot my score."
The 36-year-old holds a 767-point lead in the annual standings as he pursues his fourth straight tour championship title.
Hatton along with compatriot Marco Penge are the only two capable of preventing the Northern Irishman from claiming the season-long title.
Hatton needs to win this event while requiring his rival finish worse than tied for eighth to win it.
"I'm in a better position than him [Hatton]," stated the tournament leader. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and perform at the level I can achieve, especially around this layout, I know that I'll succeed.
"It would be an amazing way to conclude the year."
Penge shot a better 68 in round three after scores of 74 and 70, yet appears out of contention at four-under-par.
