Rory McIlroy put himself in place to safe a potential end-of-season double after sharing the third-round lead with Rasmus Højgaard and Antoine Rozner on the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The world no.3 is all however assured seal a sixth Race to Dubai crown of his profession tomorrow and can also be chasing a 3rd title on the Earth course.
The Northern Irishman started the day one shot behind in a single day chief Rozner, but it surely was Højgaard who surged clear on the prime after 4 straight birdies from the second.
The Dane climbed to 12 beneath to maneuver three clear on the eighth, nevertheless, McIlroy carded 4 birdies in a six-hole stretch from the seventh to sit down alongside Højgaard on the summit.
Each gamers missed possibilities to nudge in entrance and couldn’t be separated as they parred their manner dwelling, with Rozner carding an eagle on the final to make it a three-way tie on the prime forward of the ultimate spherical of the 2024 DP World Tour marketing campaign.
Victory for Rozner might additionally see the Frenchman climb as excessive as second on the Race to Dubai and safe twin membership with the PGA TOUR for 2025.
Joaquin Niemann blended 5 birdies and two bogeys and Swede Jesper Svensson was flawless in his 68 to sit down in fourth at ten beneath, whereas Tyrrell Hatton is one shot additional again in sixth.
Disappointing end
McIlroy stated: “After the birdie on 12, I had an excellent probability to push on. I hit a very good shot into 13 and simply caught the sting. After which 14 and 15 are birdie holes, and never having the ability to birdie both of these, and solely with a six-iron in my hand going into the final inexperienced and never making birdie there was not what I hoped for.
“I’m upset with how I performed these final 5 holes, however I’m nonetheless clearly in a very good place heading into tomorrow.
“It’s an amazing alternative to finish the yr on a very excessive observe. I’ll go on the market tomorrow and provides it all the pieces I can and hopefully issues fall my manner and I’m in a position to stand on that 18th inexperienced with each trophies.
“I’ve been in a position to do it twice earlier than. So to do it once more can be nice.”