🔗 Share this article Rory McIlroy Holds Joint Lead As He Closes In On DP World Tour Championship Rory McIlroy recorded five birdies during his Saturday performance Season Finale Saturday Leaderboard -13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (Eng), R Hojgaard (Den) Selected others: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (Eng); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Sco); -8 J Parry (Eng); -4 M Penge (Eng) Rory McIlroy made three birdies in the final five holes to move into a share of the lead of the DP World Tour Championship edging closer to his seventh season-ending tour championship title. McIlroy recorded a 68 in the United Arab Emirates, in a performance including five birdies with one bogey to climb to 13-under-par, along with Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. English golfers Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) along with Hatton (67) are on 12 under, along with Spain's Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Hojgaard (65). "All in all, a challenging round," commented McIlroy. "Weather conditions were tricky enough yet happy to shoot my score." The 36-year-old holds a 767-point lead at the top of the annual standings as he goes for his fourth straight Race to Dubai title. Hatton and fellow Englishman Marco Penge are the sole players who can stop the Northern Irishman from claiming the annual championship. Hatton must win the tournament and have McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to win it. "My position is stronger compared to him [Hatton]," added the tournament leader. "I'm focused on myself. If I go out and perform that I know that I'm capable of, especially around this golf course, I'm confident that I'll be OK. "It would be an amazing way to end the season." Marco Penge shot a better 68 in round three following rounds of 74 and 70, yet appears unlikely to challenge at four-under-par.