McIlroy shares lead with Højgaard and Rozner in Dubai

Rory McIlroy put himself in position to secure a possible end-of-season double after sharing the third-round lead with Rasmus Højgaard and Antoine Rozner at the DP World Tour Championship.

The World Number Three looks set to seal a sixth Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex crown of his career tomorrow and is also chasing a third title on the Earth course.

The Northern Irishman began the day one shot behind overnight leader Rozner, but it was Højgaard who surged clear at the top after four straight birdies from the second.

The Dane climbed to 12 under to move three clear at the eighth, however, McIlroy carded four birdies and a dropped shot in a six-hole stretch from the seventh to sit alongside Højgaard at the summit.

Both players missed chances to nudge in front and could not be separated as they parred their way home, with Rozner carding an eagle at the last to make it a three-way tie at the top ahead of the final round of the 2024 DP World Tour campaign.

Victory for Rozner could also see the Frenchman climb as high as second on the Race to Dubai and secure dual membership with the PGA TOUR for 2025.

Chile's Joaquin Niemann mixed five birdies and two bogeys and Swede Jesper Svensson was flawless in his 68 to sit in fourth at ten under, while Englishman Tyrrell Hatton is one shot further back in sixth. Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin carded a 67 to join Japan's Keita Nakajima at eight under.

Ryder Cup stars Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre are in the top ten with former World Number One Adam Scott and England's Matt Wallace at seven under par.

Player quotes

Rory McIlroy: “After the birdie on 12, you know, I had a good chance, I hit a really good shot into 13 and just caught the edge. And then 14 and 15 are birdie holes, and not being able to birdie either of those, and only with a six-iron in my hand going into the last green and not making birdie there, as well.

“A little disappointed how I played those last five holes, but still obviously in a really good position heading into tomorrow.

“It is. Tied for the lead. You know, going out on a golf course that I really like and that I've had success on before.

“Yeah, look, it's a great opportunity to end the year on a really high note. Going to go out there tomorrow and give it everything I can and hopefully things fall my way and I'm able to stand on that 18th green with both trophies.

“I've been able to do it twice before. So yeah, to do it again would be great. I've been really proud of my consistency, especially on this tour, the tournaments I haven't -- just DP World Tour events, Rolex Series events, it doesn't feel like I've finished outside the top five in many of them this year. It would be a great way to finish the year.”

Rasmus Højgaard: “Not much, to be fair. I obviously hit it close and stiffed it there on three and hit it very close on four. Was a massive confidence boost. I was just trying to ride the wave a little bit and see how many birdies I could make.  Obviously got a little quiet on the last nine holes.

“It was looking more like an eight at some point. Yeah, incredible. It wasn't an easy pitch shot, short right to be fair, and got it up to, what, a decent chance to hole the putt. I had already written down a six on my scorecard. Very happy.

“Kind of like I did today. Try not to worry too much of what's ahead of me. Try and play one hole at a time and see if I can get the best score possible out of that hole, just like 18. So yeah, I think that's my target for tomorrow, try and keep the bogeys away.

“Pretty cool. We (Rasmus and his brother Nicolai) talked about it earlier this week how cool it would be, another Højgaard could defend the title. It would be quite cool if that was to happen.”

Antoine Rozner: “I think the eagle on last helped me big time. I'm happy with my day overall. I didn't produce my best golf of the week so far but I was always hanging in there. I managed to hole a couple putts on the back nine that were big for me.

“I think shooting in the 60s here is good. It's always good. So I have to be happy with the score for sure.

“Besides being 50 yards behind on every tee shot, I think it was pretty fun. He's a nice guy. He's been very cool with me from the first tee until the end. So it was for sure a really good experience; a day I'll not forget.

“But again, I had a lot of fun, and making eagle on the last was fantastic for me. I wasn't aiming there but yeah, happy with the results.

“To be honest I don't know what to tell you right now because I'm going to try to focus on tomorrow and tomorrow only. Put a good score, and that's the only thing that's going to matter now for me. I have to come out with the right mindset, and yeah, do the best I can and we'll see how it goes in the end.”

 

Away from the competitive action, around 30 women from the Chicks With Sticks community for female amateur players were treated to a clinic by professionals from the Tommy Fleetwood Academy on the driving range at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

 

The community, originally launched by primary school teacher Jenny Hennessy from County Clare, Ireland, during the pandemic via a social media group, has now grown to around 1,500 members with weekly lessons and a host of other events, both golfing and social.

 

"Our typical 'chick' is a young female professional and we represent around 20-plus nationalities. It's so exciting to me, I've played throughout my whole life and it's such a privilege to me to introduce all these ladies to the sport," said two-handicapper Hennessy.

 

"My goal is to grow the sport as much as possible. In 2025, I'd like to have a 'Chicks With Sticks' base in every emirate of the UAE. I've now started in my home country of Ireland as well in Cork, Limerick, and Dublin and we want to grow to more countries too eventually."

 

Spectators in the Championship Chalet, meanwhile, were able to view a unique piece of artwork created by Scotsman Craig Black, which was designed to celebrate the inaugural DP World Tour Play-Offs.

 

Black, a visual artist renowned for his innovative “Acrylic Fusion” technique, created the piece, with the help of Tommy Fleetwood, at the official launch of the DP World Tour Play-Offs last month.