Rory McIlroy shares lead in Dubai and closes in on a 4th straight European title

DUBAI: Rory McIlroy emerged from a wild afternoon at the DP World Tour Championship with three birdies over his last five holes Saturday for a 4-under 68, giving him a share of the lead with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark as he closes in on a fourth straight Race to Dubai title.
The final hour at the Jumeirah Golf Estates featured an eight-way tie for the lead at one point. Nicolai Hojgaard started the third round with the lead and his twin brother became one of the leaders by the afternoon.
When the third round ended, McIlroy and Neergaard-Peterson (68) were at 13-under 203, one shot clear of Tyrrell Hatton and five other players.
Hatton is the only player with a mathematical chance of catching McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, though it would require a collapse by the Masters champion on the Earth course where McIlroy is defending champion and has three titles.
“It would be an amazing way to end the season,” McIlroy said, who is coming off a tie for third in Abu Dhabi last week to strengthen his position at the top.

“I played well when I needed to last week, especially at the weekend. I put myself in position to try to get another win here.

So yeah, really pleased.”
Marco Penge of England, who is No. 2 in the Race to Dubai, opened with a 74 and has been largely out of the picture since then.

He shot 68 on Saturday but remains nine behind. Hatton becomes the next challenger, and his 67 left him in the chasing pack.
Hatton would have to win and have McIlroy finish outside the top eight, though with so many players bunched at the top, it’s not unreasonable for that to happen.
“Today’s round has given me a chance,” Hatton said.
Plenty is at stake for Neergaard-Petersen, too.