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The New Zealander Daniel Hillier had a birdie on his last two holes to take the lead at a time before the last round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday, while the quadruple champion Rory McILroy was seven heads.
On the majlis course of the Emirates Golf Club, Hillier benefited from an advance of three strokes in the middle of the last nine while the swirling wind made the conditions of score difficult.
However, the world n ° 223 committed three successive bogeys from the 13th to the 15th hole to open the doors to its rivals before the good finish brought it to 13 under normal 203 in total.
“It was difficult. I thought it would be at the start of the day with all this wind,” said Hillier.
“It was difficult, but I enjoyed this match and I can’t wait to try it tomorrow … A victory would change my life.”
Hillier, 26, stood out with two victories on the Tour challenge before his triumph at the British Masters 2023. But 2024 was a difficult year since he remained without a single top 10 in 27 departures.
– Mcilroy Optimist –
McILroy seeks to become the first player to win the same tournament three years in a row on the DP World Tour from Ernie Els at the Heineken Classic (2002-2004).
The world n ° 3 seemed to go nowhere after having made the turn to one over it, but fought against the elements and succeeded four birdies on the last nine.
McILroy was also 12th with a total of six sous, seven behind the leader.
He was still optimistic about his chances, but he insisted that he needed a boost of the weather. The Northern Irishman had a delay of 10 mid-term shots last year.
“I would say that the winning score will far exceed 15, depending on the conditions, of course,” said McILroy.
“So, I should go out and pull 63 tomorrow. If the conditions are good, I have already been able to do it, especially if you can score on the first nine before the last nine.”
Hillier (70) finished a front of the Liv Golf star, Tyrrell Hatton.
Hatton, the world number 17, which has not finished outside the top six during its last three departures on the DP World Tour, drew a 68 to reach a total of 12 under normal.
The Scottish Ewen Ferguson (74) succeeded in the last to finish third solo at 10 sous, while the Kiwi Ryan Fox (69) and the English Laurie Canter (71) were equally fourth at 9 under 207 .
Hatton succeeded in an eagle two at the start of its round on the second hole by 4 of 356 yards when he led the green and succeeded in an eight -foot eagle putt. There were three bogeys on the first nine, but the 33 -year -old compensated with four birdies out of the last nine.
“It was quite difficult there, to be honest,” said Hatton. “The wind swirled … but I’m happy with the result.”
Hatton lost his composure in the seventh hole and expressed his frustrations on a T-shirt, which earned English a discussion with officials.
“Yes, I should probably not have done it,” Hatton told BBC Sport. “Is it a bad person? No. It was an impulsive thing. It happened. I can’t go back and change that, so move on.”
STR/NF/BSP/DJ
