Rory McIlroy races into contention in Dubai

Rory McIlroy set himself up for a Sunday attack after a storming third round 65 at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

That left him within two shots of leaders Jon Rahm and Alex Noren, who were on 14-under-par heading into their final stretch of holes.

The Holywood golfer moved to 12-under-par at the Jumeirah Golf Estates to move into contention despite two bogeys in his opening three holes.

That early damage was countered by an eagle at the par-five second after a booming 380-yard drive put into position with his putt, after a brilliant approach, falling on the right of the hole.

A birdie at five put him under par for the day and he would round off his front nine in style with back-to-back birdies – two exquisite short approaches both sniffing around the hole to leave tap-in putts.

It was three birdies in-a-row at 10, and further shots were picked up at the 14th and 15th to move him to 11-under-par for the tournament.

McIlroy found sand at the breezy par-three 17th and left his recovery effort short, but his nine-foot par putt found the centre of the cup to massive cheers around the green.

After another bruising drive at the 18th, his approach came up a club short. However, a clever chip ensured that he birdied the closing par-five hole.

FULL LEADERBOARD

Shane Lowry sits just outside the top 20 after a third-round 71 saw him end Saturday with a one-under-par score.

It could have been much better for the Offaly man but three bogeys in a row between the fifth and seventh, along with another dropped shot on his penultimate hole, prevented him from posting a really low round.