Rory McIlroy is well-placed for one more Race to Dubai title after his 7-under 65 on Saturday left him three photographs off the lead heading into the ultimate spherical on the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Jon Rahm holds a one-stroke lead after a bogey-free 65 put the Spaniard at 15-under 201 total at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he seeks to win the occasion for a 3rd time.
The highest-ranked McIlroy will battle U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick on Sunday for the Harry Vardon Trophy.
“If I will go on the market tomorrow and shoot an excellent rating and get the job completed, it will be a very nice solution to finish what’s been an awesome yr,” McIlroy stated.
Fitzpatrick trails Rahm by one shot after a 70 that included two bogeys on the entrance 9 on the Earth Course, the place he’s a two-time winner.
The Englishman can clinch what can be his first Race to Dubai title if he wins Sunday and McIlroy finishes beneath second. A second-place end would even be adequate for Fitzpatrick if McIlroy finishes decrease than seventh.
“It could imply the world,” Fitzpatrick, who lamented a sluggish begin Saturday, stated. “I will want plenty of issues going my manner. I’ve given myself an opportunity going into tomorrow and that is all you are able to do from the beginning of the week.”
Alex Noren (68) is 2 photographs off the lead, and McIlroy is tied for fourth with Tyrrell Hatton (72).
McIlroy went bogey-eagle-bogey on the primary three holes and had seven birdies the remainder of the best way.
“General, simply hit it within the fairway a bit extra right this moment which made an enormous distinction,” he stated. “I used to be in a position to get management of my method photographs and hit them shut and make some straightforward birdies. (I) simply have to do extra of the identical tomorrow.”
McIlroy is attempting to win the FedExCup and Race to Dubai in the identical yr for the primary time, having gained every occasion on three events. His final Race to Dubai title got here in 2015, having additionally gained it in 2012 and 2014.
Rahm was happy along with his third spherical.
“I do not assume I might have shot any decrease right this moment,” he stated. “[I] wasn’t my greatest off the tee, however I used to be in a position to really get some birdies out of some not-so-good conditions. I did not hit any of the fairways on the par 5s and nonetheless performed them 3-under par. I’ve had some good Sundays out right here, so hopefully I can tidy up the errors off the tee and have a easy spherical.”
