Rory McIlroy has a chance to seal his third successive Race to Dubai title and sixth overall in style on Sunday after he battled to claim a three-way share of the lead as the DP World Tour Championship looks set for a thrilling conclusion.
It could be McIlroy vs Rasmus Hojgaard part two following on from when the Dane pipped McIlroy for the Amgen Irish Open title but Antoine Rozner will be looking to have his say as he bids for a PGA Tour card with all three players on twelve-under.
McIlroy overcame an iffy start where he birdied the 2nd but bogeyed the forth as he reeled off birdies on the 5th, 7th and 9th to keep pace with the rapid Hojgaard who had flown out of the blocks with six birdies in a front nine of 30.
The Holywood man has had a season plagued with concentration errors and he carded a clumsy bogey on the 10th with a poor chip when it looked a straightforward up and down.
In textbook McIlroy fashion, he bounced back with birdies on 11 and 12 to regain a share of the lead but he was slightly disappointed not to find an extra birdie on 14, 15 or 18.
“Yeah, after the birdie on 12, you know, I had a good chance, I hit a really good shot into 13 and just caught the edge. And then 14 and 15 are birdie holes, and not being able to birdie either of those, and only with a 6-iron in my hand going into the last green and not making birdie there, as well.
“A little disappointed how I played those last five holes, but still obviously in a really good position heading into tomorrow.”
The 35-year-old looks set to equal Seve Ballesteros’ record of six Race to Dubai gongs but he is delighted to be battling on all fronts with a third DP World Tour Championship title.
“It is. Tied for the lead. You know, going out on a golf course that I really like and that I’ve had success on before.
“Yeah, look, it’s a great opportunity to end the year on a really high note. Going to go out there tomorrow and give it everything I can and hopefully things fall my way and I’m able to stand on that 18th green with both trophies.
“I’ve been able to do it twice before. Yeah, twice before. So yeah, to do it again would be great. I’ve been really proud of my consistency, especially on this tour, the tournaments I haven’t — just European Tour events, Rolex Series Events, doesn’t feel like I’ve finished outside the top five in many of them this year. It would be a great way to finish the year.”
Tom McKibbin gave his PGA Tour card hopes a shot in the arm with a seven-birdie round of 67 as he moved into a share of 7th place on eight-under and at four shots adrift he is also battling on all fronts heading into Sunday.
Meanwhile, it didn’t quite happen on day three for Shane Lowry who fell five shots off the pace after a rollercoaster round of 71 that included four birdies and there bogeys in a frustrating day for the 37-year-old as he looks to end a two year winless drought.
“Yeah, a bit of a roller coaster. It wasn’t easy. The golf course played difficult today. I had to fight probably a little bit harder today than that I have over last few weeks.
“Birdied the last there. But I couldn’t — as long as the leaders aren’t too far away, tomorrow I’ll have a chance. At the start of every week, all I want to do is give myself a chance going into Sunday and I feel like I’ve done that this week.
“It’s up to me now, go out and play free and play the last round of the year and see where it leads.”
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