Tommy Fleetwood surges into Dubai lead; Rory McIlroy 1 again

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tommy Fleetwood surged into the lead of the Dubai Invitational after taking pictures an 8-under 63 within the third spherical Saturday to overhaul Rory McIlroy by 1 stroke.

Fleetwood made eight birdies in a flawless spherical, together with 4 over his first six holes, to maneuver to a 15-under complete of 198.

McIlroy had been out in entrance since opening with a 62 on Thursday and led by 2 strokes going into the third spherical. However he settled for a 67 that left him in sole possession of second place.

Thorbjorn Olesen was one other 2 photographs again in third after a 66.

Fleetwood has six wins on the European tour however was stunned when he was informed that that is the primary time since 2014 that he’s going into the ultimate spherical with the lead.

“That is a wierd stat,” Fleetwood mentioned, including that his early birdies gave him momentum with the putter. “It is humorous actually if you get a day like that and also you’re simply them and you are feeling like … even the putts that miss come shut.”

His strategy photographs weren’t unhealthy both. He got here inside a couple of inches of holing out for eagle from 147 yards on the par-4 sixth gap.

McIlroy discovered himself 3 photographs behind Fleetwood at one level however had 4 birdies on the again 9 to remain in competition. That included a 34-footer on the eleventh after hitting his tee shot right into a bunker.

“I believe simply first week again, being within the closing group, I began feeling a bit of little bit of the excitement and the strain, attempting to win a golf event,” McIlroy mentioned. “You assume you already know the place your recreation is till you play in it in a state of affairs like that. … I performed effectively on that again 9 and earned myself a tee time with [Fleetwood] tomorrow, and it will be good enjoyable. I am trying ahead to it.”