Rory McIlroy managed to shake off the ill effects of a dodgy seafood takeaway but he couldn’t shake off Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher on day three of the 25th Dubai Desert Classic.
Gallacher will take a two shot lead into the final round of the final round of the 25th Dubai Desert Classic.
The 39-year old Scotland golfer posted a nine under par 63 for a 16-under par tally on the Emirates course.
Gallacher equalled a European Tour record for the lowest nine holes to par in completing his inward nine in nine-under par 28 that included three birdies from his 10th hole, a 13th hole eagle and then three birdies to complete his round.
Stephen Gallacher (SCO) sinks his birdie putt on the 18th green during Saturday’s Round 3 of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2014 held at the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai. 1st February 2014.
Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie
In fact, Gallacher played his last 10 holes in 10 under par.
However the dual European Tour winner, who had been four shots off the lead at the start of day three, gave no indication of the fireworks he unleashed on the back nine in completing his opening seven holes with seven pars and then dropping his only bogey at the eighth.
“I struggled at the start and played the first four holes a bit ropey but then missed a birdie putt at seven and bogeyed eight so I thought ‘oh, well’,” he said.
“But I then hit a beautiful drive and 7-iron at nine to about three foot, and from then on I never missed a shot.
“I had a 10-under par 62 around here Saturday last year, holing a bunker shot at the last, but this is the best back nine I’ve had in my career by far.
Stephen Gallacher and caddy Damien Moore during the third round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“So to get myself back into contention when I needed to do and given the stature of this tournament, it feels good.”
If successful, Gallacher would become the first player since the inaugural event in 1989 to retain the Desert Classic title.
Former fellow Dubai winner Rory McIlroy shot a three under par 69, and shaking off the ill-effects of a bout of food poisoning on day two of the event, to be in second place on 14-under par.
“Today was another when I’m not going to say I struggled because I felt like I played okay,” said McIlroy.
“I felt like I could hit a few more fairways and hole a few more putts, but two shots behind going into tomorrow, so I’ve been in similar positions before and came out on top.
“I feel like I can catch him (Gallacher) up tomorrow. I don’t really want to focus on what he’s doing; try to focus on my own thing.
“So if I can focus on just trying to hit fairways and feel like my iron play is good enough, so focus on fairways and maybe try and hole a few more putts, and see where that leaves me at the end of the day.”
McIlroy had ordered a seafood takeaway on Thursday night and battled throughout his second round of 70.
“My stomach is better today, still not 100 per cent but it’s better than it was yesterday,” he said.
World No. 1 Tiger Woods will commence the last day before heading to India for a first time 11 strokes adrift of Gallacher after shooting a 70 for a five under par total.
“I wasted a lot of opportunities out there today,” he said.
“I only hit a couple of bad shots, missed a ton of putts and really hit it good but just threw away a lot of shots”.
