Rory McIlroy got off to a flying start in the third round of the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai as he looks to seal a third Race to Dubai title at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The Northern Irishman was a winner here in 2012 as he was crowned Europe's Number One for the first time and after finishing top of the pile again last year, he is leading the way in 2015.
The 26 year old came into the week with a slender 1,613-point lead over nearest rival Danny Willett and a birdie-birdie start on Saturday got him to ten under, three shots clear of Willett and two adrift of overnight tournament leader Andy Sullivan.
Willett had two birdies and a bogey through his first seven holes while Sullivan, seeking a fourth European Tour title of the season, had parred the first alongside playing partner Emiliano Grillo who was 11 under.
Francesco Molinari was nine under through seven holes after recovering from an opening bogey with birdies on the second, third, fifth and seventh while Charl Schwartzel was alongside him after birdieing the first.
Matthew Fitzpatrick was the other man three shots off the lead with birdies at the second and third as he goes in hunt of a tenth top ten of the year and challenges for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.
Chris Wood was two under through seven holes to sit at eight under alongside Thongchai Jaidee, Martin Kaymer, Patrick Reed and Justin Rose.
Søren Kjeldsen was making one of the big moves of the day with an eagle and two birdies to turn in 32 and get to seven under where he was joined by former World Number One Luke Donald who had eagles on the seventh and 14th.
Joost Luiten was also four under for the day with Byeong-hun An, Branden Grace, Tyrrell Hatton, Bernd Wiesberger and Willett all five off the lead.
Last week's winner at the BMW Masters, Kristoffer Broberg, set the very early clubhouse target at six under after a 67.
Englishman Lee Slattery was 11 shots adrift of Sullivan but had a remarkable finish to his round as he went eagle-eagle-birdie-birdie-par from the 14th to sign for a 68.
