Rory McIlroy Shares Joint Top Spot While Closes In On Dubai Championship
Rory McIlroy secured five under-par scores in his Saturday performance
DP World Tour Championship Saturday Standings
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Denmark)
Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (England)
The world-class golfer secured three under-par scores over the closing stretch to claim a share of the lead of the tournament finale edging closer to a seventh season-ending Race to Dubai crown.
McIlroy shot a four-under-par 68 in Dubai, in a performance featuring five birdies with one bogey to move to 13 under, along with Denmark's Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Fleetwood (68) along with Hatton (67) are on 12-under-par, together with Spain's Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a bit of a battling day," said McIlroy. "Weather conditions were tricky enough yet happy with shooting my score."
McIlroy holds a 767-point lead at the top of the season-long rankings as he goes for his fourth consecutive Race to Dubai title.
Hatton and compatriot Marco Penge are the only two capable of preventing McIlroy from claiming the season-long title.
The English golfer needs to win the tournament while requiring his rival to finish outside the top eight to win it.
"I'm in a better position than him [Hatton]," added the tournament leader. "My focus is on my game. If I play and perform at the level I can achieve, especially around this layout, I know that I'll be OK.
"That would represent an amazing way to end the season."
Marco Penge shot a better 68 on Saturday following rounds of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge on four under.
