Rory McIlroy remains on course to complete the “Dubai double” of winning the DP World Tour Championship and the season-long Race to Dubai after taking a share of the lead into the final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The world No. 2, defending champion and chasing a fourth DP World Tour season finale win, birdied three of his last five holes to card a four-under 68 and move to 13 under alongside Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. A victory would also edge McIlroy closer to a seventh Race to Dubai title and a fourth consecutive success.
Tyrrell Hatton is the only player left who can overtake McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings; he must win the event with McIlroy finishing outside the top eight. Hatton kept himself in contention with a third-round 67 that lifted him into a share of third.
The leaderboard is tightly packed. Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Hojgaard are within one stroke of the lead, joined by Laurie Canter and Angel Ayora. In total, 16 players are separated by three shots heading into the final day.
Nicolai Hojgaard’s three-shot overnight advantage evaporated when he bogeyed the first and found water at the par-three sixth for a double-bogey, as several players traded the top spot during an eventful third round. England’s John Parry grabbed a share of the lead early after an eagle and three birdies in his first seven holes, while Canter briefly moved to a solo lead following successive gains from the sixth. Rasmus Hojgaard, who started the day seven back, also remained in contention.
Nicolai Hojgaard recovered later, making three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 12th to post a bogey-free 65 and set the clubhouse target. Fitzpatrick, Alex Noren and Ayora also reached the top of the increasingly bunched leaderboard. Ayora birdied the 16th to edge ahead but bogeyed the 18th, briefly creating an eight-way tie before Neergaard-Petersen — who bogeyed his opening hole — rallied with three birdies in five holes on his back nine to reach 13 under.
McIlroy, who began the round three shots off the lead, birdied the first but three-putted the second after missing a close-range attempt and squandered another birdie chance at the third. He then bogeyed the par-three fourth for the second time this week. He steadied with a two-putt birdie at the par-five seventh, added back-to-back birdies from the 14th, and drained an eight-foot putt at the last to join Neergaard-Petersen atop the standings.
Neergaard-Petersen closed with successive pars to record the first 54-hole co-lead of his DP World Tour career and said he was “super pleased,” noting he stayed patient after a slow start and is excited at the prospect of playing in the final group with McIlroy on Sunday.
Overnight leader Nicolai Hojgaard is two back alongside Justin Rose and Ludvig Åberg. Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre sit three strokes behind in a tie for 10th. Marco Penge, nearest to McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings, is tied 36th despite a four-under 68. McIlroy played alongside Daniel Hillier, who posted a level-par 72 to remain on nine under.
McIlroy reflected on his round, saying the early three-putt affected him on the greens but he stayed patient and capitalised on late chances. “I’m in a better position than [Hatton]. I’m focused on myself. If I go out and play the golf that I know I’m capable of, especially around this golf course, I know that it will be okay,” he added.
Watch the final round of the DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports Golf from 6.30am on Sunday.