Rory McIlroy is chasing a third Dubai Desert Classic and a €1,195,000 first prize today.
The Holywood man goes out in the final pairing alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Harding, who holds a two-shot lead over the four-time major champion.
McIlroy won his very first professional event at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic before winning the event again in 2015. Dubai has been a very happy hunting ground for the 32-year-old, who has also won the DP World Tour Championship on two occasions.
A third round 69 was inspired by a glorious eagle on the par-five 10th, with McIlroy picking up shots on all three par fives on the back nine on Saturday.
“I’m excited,” he said after the round. “Had a really good chance in 2018 and let it slip through my fingers there when Haotong won. Good to give myself another opportunity.
“It would be nice to get another win, especially here in Dubai. But it’s obviously nice to get a win anywhere early in the season. So I’ve just got to go out there tomorrow and try to play a good round of golf and hopefully it’s good enough.
“Some good things in there and a couple of bad things as well and I feel like it all evened out by the end and it was nice to birdie the last and shoot something in the 60s and play myself into the final group tomorrow.”
It could be a cavalry charge to the finish though at Emirates Golf Club, with a host of a big names still within striking distance ahead of the final round.
Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood, Paul Casey and Tyrell Hatton are all in contention, while 50-year-old Padraig Harrington is just five shots off the lead after a third round of 69.
The Dubliner has continued in fine form in the desert and goes out in a group with Lee Westwood and Hatton on Sunday.
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