Rory McIlroy continued to produce a spellbinding display of golf at Emirates Golf Club as a third round 66 sent him four shots clear in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The World Number One, whose last six European Tour starts have yielded three wins – two of them Majors – and three seconds, had pulled a shot clear with a second round 64 and was again flawless on Saturday as he carded six birdies.
It threatened to be even better when he raced to the turn in just 30 shots, but a run of eight consecutive pars from the ninth – his longest birdie drought of the week – saw the Northern Irishman settle for a 20 under total at the scene of his first professional win back in 2009.
“To be bogey free again today was important to me, especially when you're going out with the lead,” said McIlroy.
“Not to make any mistakes makes it that much harder for anyone else - just to get that up and down on the last was big for momentum going into tomorrow.
“I'm very happy. I feel like I could be a little bit more but I'm not going to complain - I'm four ahead going into the final day, so I’ve put myself in a great position to win tomorrow.
“I just have to go and try and play similar golf to the way I have the first three days.
“I've been in this position many times before and I know the pitfalls that are waiting out there; it's just a matter of sticking to the same game plan, being aggressive, making committed swings and giving myself as many chances for birdies as I can.”
The 25 year old started with a birdie from 20 feet at the first, converted from five feet at the third and rolled in a 12 footer at the fifth in a sensational start.
Another gain from eight feet two holes later and a 12 foot birdie at the next suggested Ernie Els’ course record 61 might be under threat, but McIlroy found water at the par five ninth and missed a putt from inside two feet at the long next.
That began his lengthy par run, but McIlroy picked up a further shot on the 17th after driving to the apron of the green, although he was unable to capitalise on the par five last after again finding water with his second.
“The front nine was very good,” added McIlroy. “I didn't put a foot wrong on the front nine and when I missed that little short putt on ten, it seemed like that momentum I had just went away. It was nice to make one birdie on 17, and then a great save on the last.
“I can't complain - another good round and a great position going into tomorrow.”
Dane Morten Ørum Madsen matched McIlroy’s 66 to be four shots adrift in second on 16 under, with former World Number One Lee Westwood two shots further back in third after a round of 69.
Madsen had been in danger of missing the cut after an opening 71, but revealed he had taken a lot of confidence from his second round 63.
“Obviously I felt pretty confident from the round I played yesterday - that was one of my best rounds ever,” he said.
“I was nice and calm all the way and putted well and hit the ball solidly.
“Obviously he's going to be tough to beat. He looks like he's playing pretty solidly out there, so I'm just going to go out tomorrow and see if I can play some of the same golf that I played today. I won't be too disappointed if I don't win tomorrow.
“I'll be happy if I do what I set out to do and play pretty solidly. Rory is the best golfer in the world right now and it's not looking like he's going to falter but if he does, someone's going to be there to take it.
“I'll try and stay as close to him as I can - hopefully he's not going to run away too far before the end of the day.”
