New Zealander Daniel Hillier birdied his final two holes to take a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday, while four-time champion Rory McIlroy was seven shots off the lead.
On the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, Hillier enjoyed a three-shot lead midway through the back nine as swirling wind made scoring conditions difficult.
However, the world No. 223 made three successive bogeys from the 13th to the 15th hole to open the doors for his rivals before the strong finish took him to 13-under-par 203 overall.
“It was tough. I thought it would be like this at the start of the day with all the wind,” Hillier said.
“It was tough, but I enjoyed the match and can’t wait to try tomorrow… A win would change my life.”
Hillier, 26, rose to prominence with two wins on the Challenge Tour before his triumph at the 2023 British Masters. But 2024 was a difficult year as he went without a single top 10 in 27 starts.
– McIlroy optimistic –
McIlroy is looking to become the first player to win the same tournament three years in a row on the DP World Tour since Ernie Els at the Heineken Classic (2002-2004).
The world No. 3 appeared to be going nowhere after making the one-over turn, but battled against the elements and made four birdies on the back nine.
McIlroy was tied for 12th with a total of six under, seven behind the leader.
He was still optimistic about his chances, but insisted he needed a boost from the weather. The Northern Irishman was 10 shots behind at the halfway mark last year.
“I would say the winning score will be well over 15, depending on the conditions, obviously,” McIlroy said.
“So I should go out and shoot 63 tomorrow. If the conditions are right, I’ve been able to do that before, especially if you can score on the front nine before the back nine.”
Hillier (70) finished one ahead of in-form LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton.
Hatton, the world number 17 who has not finished outside the top six in his last three starts on the DP World Tour, shot a 68 to reach a total of 12 under par.
Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson (74) birdied the final to finish solo third at 10 under, while Kiwi Ryan Fox (69) and England’s Laurie Canter (71) tied for fourth at 9 under 207 .
Hatton made an eagle two early in his round on the 356-yard par-4 second hole when he drove the green and holed an eight-foot eagle putt. There were three bogeys on the front nine, but the 33-year-old made up for it with four birdies on the back nine.
“It was pretty tough out there, to be honest,” Hatton said. “The wind was swirling… But I’m happy with the result.”
Hatton lost his composure on the seventh hole and vented his frustrations on a tee-shirt, earning the Englishman a discussion with officials.
“Yeah, I probably shouldn’t have done it,” Hatton told BBC Sport. “Does that make me a bad person? No. It was an impulsive thing. It happened. I can’t go back and change it, so move on.”
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