Rory McIlroy gave himself an opportunity to win the Dubai Invitational by capturing a 3-under 68 on Saturday.
McIlroy additionally carded a 68, giving him a three-stroke lead over chief Nacho Elvira heading into the ultimate spherical at Dubai Creek Resort.
Elvira is 2 strokes behind Eire’s Shane Lowry, Britain’s Marcus Armitage and South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli in a three-way tie for second place.
On Friday, McIlroy posted a commanding 3-over 74 with 5 bogeys, however the Northern Irishman began his penultimate spherical with a birdie however stumbled to a six-bogey on the fourth. He fought again with three birdies on the again 9 and put himself in competition for the title.
McIlroy has had a powerful efficiency on this 12 months’s opening event, with one win, six runner-up finishes and 15 top-five finishes.
“I feel the important thing to that’s the alternative to work on one thing when you have got a bit of little bit of time over the Christmas interval and the passion to begin recent within the new 12 months,” McIlroy stated. “At the same time as an beginner, I liked coming right here to the Center East and Dubai and taking part in in tournaments. I have been coming right here for over 20 years and it is a comfy place for me.”
Lowry, in search of his first DP World Tour title since successful the 2022 BMW PGA Championship, began the day alongside Elvira on the high of the leaderboard. He dropped two strokes with bogeys on the third and sixth holes, however made three birdies within the closing 12 holes and responded with a 1-under 70 to maintain his hopes alive.
Armitage’s intention was ruined when he dropped a shot on the seventh, however he made 4 birdies on the again 9 to shut in on the lead. Frittelli made 5 birdies in a bogey-free spherical and moved up within the standings.
Nevertheless, Elvira made 4 birdies and one bogey to carry the benefit heading into the ultimate 18 holes. Elvira’s solely earlier wins on the European Tour have been the Kazoo Open in 2021 and the Soudal Open in 2024.
England’s Matt Wallace (69) is 5 pictures off the tempo and compatriot Tommy Fleetwood is eight pictures behind after a 78 on Friday gave up his probability to defend his title, regardless of a advantageous third-round 66.
“Golf is tough and may be very humbling at occasions and yesterday was a kind of days,” Fleetwood stated. “I hit the worst rating I’ve ever had, and every thing I did unsuitable was unsuitable. It was actually disappointing. So I am actually completely satisfied that I performed effectively at present.”
PA and The Related Press contributed to this report.
