McIlroy Posts Lowest ‘Moving Day’ Score In 17 Months In Dubai.

2 years ago by Comments Off on McIlroy Posts Lowest ‘Moving Day’ Score In 17 Months In Dubai.

There’s a reason the third round of a four-round golf tournament is affectionately known an ‘Moving Day’.

Rory McIlroy knows what ‘Moving Day’ is all about coming from 10 shots off the lead heading to the third day of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the defending champion to superbly muscle his way into the clubhouse lead thanks to a closing hole eagle ‘3’ in his score of 63 for a 12-under tally.

McIlroy’s round was a lowest by four shots of anyone competing on day three of the Rolex Series event.

When the triple Desert Classic winner teed-off there was also 23 players between himself and the lead but now heading to the final round McIlrory finds himself grouped with visiting American Cameron Young, who posted a no-frills 71 to move to 14-under and two clear of McIlroy and Poland’s Adrian Mernonk (71).

McIlroy found himself in the Dubai slow lanes over the first two days, hardly producing a ripple of excitement with scores of 71 and 70.

However, it was straight into the overtaking lane on day three with McIlroy birdieing the first and third holes, and then producing four birdies in succession from the seventh hole to be now making his presence felt at nine-under.

McIlroy moved into double figures when he birdied the par-5 13th for a third day running and then for good measure he brought the crowds sitting back in the luxury of their corporate enclosure at the back of the 18th hole when he landed his second shot into the back left corner of the green, and then brilliantly holed the 15-yard eagle putt for his score of 63.

“I was walking up the 18th after my second shot with putter in my hand, and then as I got closer to the ball, I saw that there was a lot of fringe to go through and I said to Harry, I sort of want to chip it but the lie wasn’t great, and I could just see the club bouncing and said I’d just ride my luck with the putter,” McIlroy said of his closing eagle.

“It came out perfectly, and as soon as it got on the green, it actually wasn’t as fast as I thought it was going to be, and it was tracking perfectly, and obviously a huge bonus for something like that to go in.

“But for the rest of the day, I played some very, very good golf, definitely better than I played the last couple of days. Nice to get myself right back in the tournament.”

His ‘Moving Day’ score of 63 is a best third round score since a similar 63 on route to victory in the 2022 Tour Championship on the PGA Tour, and with McIlroy then capturing a 22nd of currently 24 PGA Tour wins.

McIlroy’s round, and after hardly raising a murmur over his opening 36 holes, reminds us all of the talent of the 37 tournament winning Northern Irishman.

If he were to make it 38 pro career wins, McIlroy would not only be a four-time Hero Dubai Desert Classic winner but it would also be the first tournament in his pro career he would have won on four occasions.

Currently, he’s also a triple Wells Fargo Championship and PGA Tour’s Tour Championship winner.

“I think the fact that I turn up every day still trying to get better,” he said.

“I think the consistency that I’ve shown throughout my career, I’ve never lost the hunger to go out and play better, but I’ve also never lost the joy of the game, which I think is really important.

“It’s never felt like a job to me in the day that does feel like a job is the day I need to give up.

“Anything within five, probably,” he said of the kind of gap he feels he can bridge. “I don’t think I’m going to be five behind unless someone does something very special on the back nine but you know anything within three, four, five shots so I think I’ll still have a chance to win here, which would be amazing.

“It would be awesome. I’ve had so much success in Dubai, whether at this tournament or over Jumeirah Golf Estates and Race to Dubai and it’s been a really good place to me, and I love coming back here.

“I really enjoy my time here and yeah, it’d be amazing if I was able to get another one.”

Well said Rors!

 

 



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