McIlroy's Impressive Performance Reignites Hopes for Fourth Dubai Desert Classic Win

McIlroy Surges Up the Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy started the day 10 shots behind the leader but finished with a magnificent 63, catapulting him to the top of the leaderboard. With this vintage McIlroy performance, he now has a real chance of winning his fourth Desert Classic crown.

However, his position is not as unassailable as it seemed at first. Cameron Young, the 36-hole leader, recovered from a shaky front-nine and posted a 71, putting him two strokes ahead of McIlroy. Can the American newcomer hold off the pressure from McIlroy on the final day? They will be playing together in the last round. Adrian Meronk is also in the conversation, tied with McIlroy at 12 under par after a 70 in the third round.

McIlroy's Dominance on Display

This was undoubtedly McIlroy's day. For the second time in Dubai, he will play in the final pairing on Sunday. McIlroy expressed his excitement over the prospect of winning, stating, "It would be amazing to be the first player to win this tournament four times. Dubai has been a really good place to me, and I love coming back here."

McIlroy's exceptional approach play led to birdies on the 1st, 3rd, and four consecutive holes from the 7th. Although his momentum slowed down afterwards, he managed to gain another stroke at the par-five 13th. However, he saved the best for last. On the 18th green, from the fringe, he sank a stunning putt for an eagle three. The crowd's roar and McIlroy's celebration emphasized the importance of that moment. McIlroy always feels confident in his chances at this venue.

"It's a combination of the course and the course setup," McIlroy explained. "If you play really well, you can go low, but if you're slightly off, you can shoot scores like I did in the first two days. But when you're behind, a course setup like this, where the misses are penal and the greens are firm, gives players in the chasing pack a chance to score well." McIlroy's nine-under-par score matches his lowest at this venue.

Players and the LIV Golf Series

Tommy Fleetwood confirmed that he has received an approach from LIV Golf Series after rejecting a multimillion pound offer from the Saudi Arabian-backed tour. Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton, both European Ryder Cup players, have been identified as targets by LIV before its third season.

While Hatton's management denied any formal offer, he remains a target for LIV. Hatton commented, "I'd say several people have had conversations. That's part and parcel of golf at the moment. But I'm quite happy playing on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Many players have had similar conversations, and I don't see anything to shy away from." When asked if he would remain on the traditional tours, Hatton replied, "Yes, as of right now." LIV Golf Series seems to have a window of opportunity to attract players.