Saturday 27 January 2018 15:53, UK
Rory McIlroy has set his sights on a third Omega Dubai Desert title after a back-nine fightback kept him in contention in Dubai.
The four-time major champion carded a four-under 68 at Emirates Golf Club, recovering from a slow start to get within a stroke of Haotong Li at the top of the leaderboard.
McIlroy took a two-shot lead into the third round but lost ground with a front-nine 37, only to bounce back with three birdies and an eagle after the turn to move up the leaderboard.
"Hopefully that's the bad one (round) out of the way," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "I didn't get off to too bad a start, just a couple of loose ones.
"To come back with a five-under back nine was good and it was good to knock that birdie in at the last and stay within one of Li.
"I'll probably need to play a bit better tomorrow to win, but you know, it's two weeks into the season and I've given myself a second chance to win a tournament."
McIlroy birdied the second but failed to take advantage of the par-five third and dropped shots at the fourth and eighth. The Northern Irishman bounced back with an eagle-three at the 10th and posted gains at the 13th and 16th, before matching Li's birdie at the par-five last.
"I showed that even whenever I didn't have my best stuff today, I was able to battle around and get in at a decent score," McIlroy added.
"Hopefully I have a bit of a better game tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it and it would be great to put my name on that trophy for a third time.
"This is one of my favourite tournaments of the year, a place I've always done well at, some good memories. Maybe that experience of winning a couple of times around here, being in contention quite a lot, will help me tomorrow."
Watch the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic live on Sunday from 8.30am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event.
