Mcilroy still in contention and ready for final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Mcilroy still in contention and ready for final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. On the recovery from a slight illness, the Northern Irishman opened his third round with a bogey but bounced back immediately with a second hole birdie followed by an eagle at the next.
photo: Rory and Caddie after his round
He gave a shot back at the sixth, but after rallying with a brace of birdies on the back nine, a second career victory in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic is well within reach for the World Number Seven.
He said: “I played okay. I felt like I could’ve hit a few more fairways and holed a few more putts, but two shots behind going into tomorrow isn’t bad. I’ve been in similar positions before and came out on top, so hopefully I can do it again.
“What Stevie [Gallacher] did was phenomenal. I didn’t know he was ten under for the last ten holes. That’s some golf right there, especially as you’ve got some tough holes on the back nine. So that’s very, very impressive.”
McIlroy’s playing partner Brooks Koepka had looked like mounting a strong challenge after covering his first 13 holes in four under par, but back-to-back bogeys from the 14th stalled his momentum, and he had to settle for a round of 70 and a 12 under par aggregate total.
Koepka shares third place with another of The European Tour’s rising stars, Thorbjørn Olesen, who surged through the field courtesy of a round of 65.
Tiger Woods will require a miraculous final round if he is to prevail for a third time after the World Number One signed for a round of 72 which left him in a tie for 37th place on five under par.
Third round scores
200 S Gallacher (Sco) 66 71 63;
202 R McIlroy (Nir) 63 70 69;
204 B Koepka (USA) 69 65 70; T Olesen (Den) 71 68 65;
205 E Molinari (Ita) 65 72 68; R Rock (Eng) 67 70 68; S Webster (Eng) 71 70 64;
206 R Kakko (Fin) 69 69 68;
207 D Fichardt (RSA) 69 72 66; D Van Der Walt (RSA) 72 70 65; E Grillo (Arg) 71 67 69; J Donaldson (Wal) 69 68 70; D McGrane (Irl) 66 70 71;
208 T Jaidee (Tha) 68 69 71; B Wiesberger (Aut) 70 70 68; P Waring (Eng) 70 70 68; R Wattel (Fra) 68 73 67; R Sterne (RSA) 66 73 69;
209 J Luiten (Ned) 70 69 70; C Montgomerie (Sco) 70 70 69; P Casey (Eng) 70 72 67; A Wall (Eng) 74 66 69; F Molinari (Ita) 69 69 71; M Crespi (Ita) 69 71 69; S Hansen (Den) 67 71 71; M Baldwin (Eng) 66 74 69; D Willett (Eng) 71 65 73; R Jacquelin (Fra) 69 71 69;
210 C Doak (Sco) 71 68 71; T Björn (Den) 72 70 68; J Van Zyl (RSA) 71 68 71; S Kjeldsen (Den) 68 71 71; H Otto (RSA) 68 73 69; M Madsen (Den) 71 67 72; B Rumford (Aus) 69 70 71; J Campillo (Esp) 68 72 70;
211 S Kim (Kor) 70 69 72; P Lawrie (Sco) 68 71 72; T Woods (USA) 68 73 70; R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 71 69 71; M Ilonen (Fin) 69 72 70; S Hend (Aus) 69 72 70; L Slattery (Eng) 70 71 70; R Karlsson (Swe) 73 67 71; P Larrazábal (Esp) 74 68 69; S Dyson (Eng) 69 69 73;
212 M Siem (Ger) 72 67 73; E De La Riva (Esp) 70 70 72; M Carlsson (Swe) 69 69 74; F Zanotti (Par) 72 70 70; S Kapur (Ind) 72 70 70; S Jamieson (Sco) 73 69 70; S Benson (Eng) 72 70 70; M Kieffer (Ger) 71 70 71; S Noh (Kor) 69 72 71; C Wood (Eng) 73 69 70; G Bourdy (Fra) 71 68 73; H Stenson (Swe) 70 67 75; J Walters (RSA) 69 68 75;
213 J Quesne (Fra) 66 70 77; K Broberg (Swe) 71 69 73;
214 G Havret (Fra) 70 72 72; F Couples (USA) 70 71 73;
215 C Del Moral (Esp) 70 72 73; G Stal (Fra) 74 68 73; A Quiros (Esp) 69 72 74; M Hoey (Nir) 70 72 73; A Cañizares (Esp) 74 67 74;
217 A Levy (Fra) 69 72 76; J Lima (Por) 71 71 75;
218 T Lewis (Eng) 71 69 78
