World No. 1 Rory McIlroy was in a class of his own storming his way to a four shot lead with a six under par 66 and move to 20-under par on day three of the Dubai Desert Classic.
McIlroy had raced to 19-under par with five birdies in his opening eight holes and while he then parred the next eight, the 25-year old then birdied the 17th before saving par from 12 feet at the last on the Emirates Club course.
Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen also carded a 66 to be in second place at 16-under par as the 26-year old looks to win on Tour for a second time.
Rory McIlroy drives off the first and on route to a sizzling six under par 66 and a four shot third round lead. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Former World No. 1 Lee Westwood birdied his closing two holes in a 69 to be third at 14-under and with Scotland’s and double Dubai defending champ Stephen Gallacher (70) among four players at 13-under par.
A shot further back, and needing a top-three finish to secure the likelihood of a maiden Masters invitation, is Scotland’s Marc Warren signing for a 73 to be among eight players locked in eighth place at 12-under par.
McIlroy is now just one round away in capturing a second Dubai Desert Classic title after breaking through in 2009 to win first a first occasion as a professional.
The four-time Major winner is also just three shots away from lowering the all-time 72-hole tournament low of 22-under par shared by Thomas Bjorn (2001) and Gallacher (2013).
“The front nine was very good as I didn’t put a foot wrong, and when I missed that little short putt on 10, seemed like that momentum I had just sort of went away and had to scramble a little bit for pars coming in,” he said.
“It was nice then to make one birdie on 17 and then a great save on the last, and nice to go out there today with no bogeys for a second day in a row.
“So I can’t complain. Another good round and a great position going into tomorrow.”
Rory McIlroy even on one leg still manages to take a birdie at the eighth hole on route to a third round 66. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
McIlroy needed just 25 putts in his last regular European Tour event before returning to the States and his first PGA Tour event of 2015, the February 26th starting Honda Classic in West Palm Beach, Florida.
However before that McIlroy is headed to Dublin on an early Monday morning flight local UAE time to be present on Tuesday at the Dublin High Court to settle a long-running row with a former management company.
But that seemed the furthest from his mind with a round to play in Dubai.
“My game is pretty smooth, or it was for the first nine holes, anyway today,” he added.
“I felt like today for the first time this week where I struggled a little bit but felt like I kept it together nicely and didn’t drop any shots on the way in.
“But then we know in this game you can take nothing for granted. I’ve been in this position many times before I know the pitfalls that are waiting out there.
“So it’s just a matter of sticking to the same game plan, being aggressive, making committed swings and giving myself as many chances for birdies as I can.”
