Rory McIlroy heads into the final round of the DP World Tour Championship tied for the lead, with many contenders close behind.
Saturday’s action at the DP World Tour Championship set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the season. With 15 players within three shots of the lead, the tournament remains wide open. Rory McIlroy and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen sit atop the leaderboard at -13, just one stroke ahead of a group of six players led by Tommy Fleetwood. The tight race was fueled by a disappointing round from Friday leader Nicolai Højgaard, who shot a 74 (+2), allowing the field to close the gap. The battle for the Race to Dubai title also intensified, with Tyrrell Hatton among the contenders. If Hatton wins, McIlroy must finish better than T8 to secure the season-long title.
DP World Tour: McIlroy shows composure to claim share of lead
Rory McIlroy demonstrated his trademark composure on Saturday, carding a 68 to move into a share of the lead. Apart from a bogey on the 4th, the Northern Irishman played a clean round, narrowly missing several putts that could have made his score even better. He impressed with clutch shots from tough positions, including a standout moment on the 10th hole, where he recovered from a poor drive to reach the green from over 120 yards despite tree interference. After two birdies and a bogey on the front nine, McIlroy remained in the chasing pack until a late surge. Birdies on 14, 15, and 18 lifted him into a tie for the lead with Neergaard-Petersen, setting up a dramatic final pairing on Sunday.
Despite his strong position, McIlroy can’t afford to relax. Tyrrell Hatton, with his second 67 of the week, is just one shot back. The Englishman continued his consistent play, bouncing back from a bogey on the 4th with birdies on the 6th and 7th, and adding four more on the back nine. With the leaderboard so tightly packed, even McIlroy could slip down the standings quickly, giving Hatton a chance to claim both the tournament and the Race to Dubai title.
Solid showing from Nicolai von Dellingshausen
Germany’s Nicolai von Dellingshausen may be out of contention for the title, but he delivered a steady performance at the season finale. For the third straight day, he shot a 70, placing him tied for 24th. He opened with a birdie on the 1st and added another on the 7th before a bogey on the 9th left him one under at the turn. On the back nine, he birdied the 12th but gave it back on the 13th. A strong tee shot on the challenging 18th helped him secure his third consecutive round of 70.