McIlroy roars into contention in Dubai with 63 to sit two shots off lead after third round

By: The Associated Press Posted: 9:27 AM CST Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy surged into contention at the Dubai Desert Classic by finishing off a 9-under 63 with an eagle on the final hole that left him two shots behind leader Cameron Young on Saturday.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/01/2024 (980 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The No. 2-ranked McIlroy, the defending champion, started the day 10 strokes behind Young. But he made four straight birdies from the seventh hole and then rolled in a 45-foot eagle putt from off the green at 18 to cap a flawless round at Emirates Golf Club.

That putt kept him in striking distance of a record fourth title at the tournament, although the Northern Irishman said he was tempted to chip the ball after seeing how much fringe he had to get through.

Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark plays his second shot on the 14th hole during the third round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

“I was like, I’ll just sort of ride my luck with the putter, and it came out perfectly,” McIlroy said. “Obviously a huge bonus for something like that to go in. But you know, for the rest of the day, I played some very, very good golf. Definitely better than I played the last couple of days and nice to get myself right back in the tournament.”

Young got himself in some trouble by dropping three shots in two holes, with a double-bogey at the par-3 seventh followed by a bogey on the next hole. But he made three birdies on the back nine for a 71 to stay two shots ahead of McIlroy and Adrian Meronk, the recently crowned European tour’s player of 2023 who carded a 70.

Young has a 14-under total of 202 as he looks for a first win on the European tour.

“It would be a nice feeling (to win),” said Young, the runner-up at the 2022 British Open. “It’s one of those times that you feel like kind of at peace with what you’ve done and it’s something I would love to do tomorrow. I’ve put myself in another great place to have a chance and I’m happy with that.”