Rory McIlroy will take a share of the lead into the final round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, as he took a major step towards a Dubai double on Saturday. (More Sports News)
McIlroy is already on the verge of securing his sixth Race to 𒁃Dubai crown to match Seve Ballesteros' record, only requiring a top-11 finish even if closest rival Thriston Lawrence was to win the final event on the 2024 calendar.
He ended Saturday's penultimat🌳e round eight shots clear of Lawrence and tied for the lead with Antoine Rozner and Rasmus Hojgaard, having carded a four-under 68.
The Northern Irishman scored six birdies and two bogeys in his thi♑rd rou𒅌nd, while Hojgaard made six birdies in a seven-hole stretch to ultimately make up two shots on McIlroy.
Rozner, meanwhile, surrenderꩵed the solo lead wi𒊎th a three-under 69, though a final-hole eagle ensured he will start Sunday's decisive final round among the frontrunners.
Things could 𒉰have been even better for McIlroy had he not missed a birdie putt on the par-five 18th hole, which would have seen him enter Sunday a shot clear of the pack.
Nevertheless, he remains among the favourites to seal a ꦆthird DP World Tour Cham🐻pionship crown, having previously won the event in 2012 and 2015.
Sweden's Jesper Svensson and ꦛChile's Joaquin Niemann are two shots back of the leaders at 10-under for the tournament, with England's Tyrrell Hatton another shot back in sixth.
