McIlroy Shares Joint Top Spot While Closes In On DP World Tour Championship
Rory McIlroy secured five birdies in his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Third-Round Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (Eng), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (Eng)
Rory McIlroy sank three birdies in the final five holes to claim a share of the lead at the tournament finale and close in on his seventh season-ending tour championship crown.
McIlroy carded a four-under-par 68 in the United Arab Emirates, in a performance including five birdies with one bogey to climb to 13 under, joining Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
England's Laurie Canter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Fleetwood (68) and Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12-under-par, along with Spain's Angel Ayora (67) and Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a bit of a battling day," commented the golfer. "Weather conditions proved difficult yet happy with shooting the score that I did."
McIlroy has a substantial lead at the top of the annual standings as he pursues his fourth consecutive tour championship crown.
Hatton and compatriot Marco Penge are the only two capable of preventing the Northern Irishman from winning the season-long title.
Hatton needs to win the tournament and have McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to win it.
"My position is stronger than him [Hatton]," stated McIlroy. "I'm focused on myself. If I play and play the golf at the level that I'm capable of, especially around this golf course, I'm confident that I'll be OK.
"It would be a fantastic manner to end the season."
Penge carded an improved 68 on Saturday after scores of 74 and 70, but looks unlikely to challenge on four under.
