Marcel Schneider moves into the top 20 with a -4 on Moving Day at the DP World Tour; Patrick Reed extends his lead at the top.
Marcel Schneider nearly flawless on DP World Tour Moving Day
The third round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour featured four remaining German-speaking players in the field. Marcel Schneider stood out on Moving Day in Dubai, delivering a near flawless performance and climbing early up the leaderboard. Three birdies on the front nine laid the foundation for his strong round. Particularly, his superb short game paid off. Two more birdies were offset by a single bogey on the 17th hole. With a daily score of -4, Schneider positions himself in the top 20 heading into the final day, competing for top placements.
Reed extends lead before final round
At the top, Patrick Reed pulled ahead. After a mixed front nine, the American birdied three of the back nine holes without any mistakes. He carded a -5 for the day and a total of -14, holding a four-stroke lead going into the final day.
\”It’s always exciting to start Sunday with a lead. We’re all playing for the chance to win on Sunday. I know it won’t be easy—that’s never the case, no matter how big 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 chaser David Puig posted a strong -6 on Saturday with only one bogey and seven birdies, moving to -10 after three rounds. Viktor Hovland also impressed; a bogey-free round including seven birdies placed him tied for third at -9 with Andy Sullivan going into the final round.
Three more German-speaking players in top 50 after strong back nine
Behind Schneider, three further 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 began cautiously with eight pars and one bogey on the front nine, but turned it up on the back nine with four birdies