Marcel Schneider moves into the top 20 on the DP World Tour Moving Day with a -4 round, while Patrick Reed extends his lead.
Marcel Schneider shines on the DP World Tour Moving Day
The third round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour started with four remaining German-speaking players in the field. Marcel Schneider particularly impressed on the Moving Day in Dubai. The German delivered an almost flawless round, climbing up the leaderboard early. Three birdies on the front nine laid the foundation for his strong performance. His excellent play around the greens paid off as he added two more birdies, with only one bogey on the 17th hole. With a -4 round, Schneider positioned himself in the top 20 going into the final day, contending for top positions.
Patrick Reed extends lead before final day
At the top, Patrick Reed pulled away. After a mixed front nine, the American posted three birdies on the back nine without any mistakes. He finished with a -5 round and leads by four strokes at -14 heading into the final day.
\”It’s always great to start Sunday with the lead. We’re all playing to have a chance to win on Sunday. I know it won’t be easy, it’s never easy regardless of the lead,\” Reed said.
Patrick Reed opens up a four-shot lead at the top! #HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/zuidOx0NPP
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 24, 2026
Direct pursuer David Puig fired a strong -6 round on Saturday, with just one bogey and seven birdies, sitting at -10 after three days. Viktor Hovland also impressed with a bogey-free round featuring seven birdies, sharing third place at -9 with Andy Sullivan heading into the final round.
Three other German-speaking players enter top 50 after strong back nine
Behind Schneider, three more German-speaking players secured spots in the top 50 before the final day. Nicolai von Dellingshausen, Freddy Schott, and Joel Girrbach are all tied at -1.
Freddy Schott started slowly with eight pars and a bogey on the front nine but surged on the back nine with four birdies and only one bogey for a -2 round.