DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Patrick Reed will go into the ultimate spherical of the Dubai Desert Traditional with a four-stroke lead after capturing a 5-under 67 on Saturday, with Rory McIlroy’s possibilities of successful a record-extending fifth title successfully extinguished.
Reed, the 2018 Masters champion who presently performs on the LIV Golf Circuit, improved to 14-under 202 for the week along with his seventh birdie on the 18th within the third spherical at Emirates Golf Membership.
Main the cost was fellow LIV participant David Puig, who shot a 66 to maneuver into second place. One stroke additional behind have been Viktor Hovland and Andy Sullivan (71), who each shot a 65, tying for the bottom spherical of the day.
“I do know it is not going to be straightforward. It is by no means going to be straightforward, and it would not matter how large of a lead you might have,” stated Reed, who had 9 wins on the PGA Tour, together with Augusta Nationwide, earlier than becoming a member of LIV in 2022.
The American received the LIV golf occasion in Dallas final yr and can win in Hong Kong on the Asian Tour in 2024.
As for No. 2 McIlroy, the event headliner began his spherical seven strokes off the chief’s lead final night time and spoke of the potential of a weekend assault on the course the place he has received 4 occasions.
The Northern Irishman made par on every of his first 9 holes, however missed a two-foot par putt on the final gap and made bogey for a 71. He was 11 photographs behind.
Tommy Fleetwood, ranked No. 3, has but to interrupt par this week after posting rounds of 73 and 72.
One other participant to observe, Tyrrell Hatton, hit a 76 with six bogeys, dropping him to a tie for forty second place.
Puig has already received the 2026 European Tour season and the Australian PGA Championship in November, and the 24-year-old Spaniard tied for third eventually week’s Dubai Invitational.
Hovland’s final win on the European Tour got here on the 2022 Dubai Desert Traditional, the place he began within the ultimate spherical of six and received a playoff towards Richard Model.
The Norwegian, ranked 14th within the rankings, has modified his swing lately and, regardless of being bogey-free on Saturday, nonetheless would not really feel fully snug.
“I nonetheless do not feel like I can stand on the tee and swing for the fences, simply unfastened swings,” stated Hovland, who might be competing in his first event in 2026. “Every thing may be very effectively thought out and constructed, and it simply occurred to fly straight as we speak. In case you come off the tee and are in an honest place, you are able to do lots of injury.”
“However I actually need to have the ability to stand on the tee field and swing as laborious as I can and see the ball go fairly straight.”
