Andy Sullivan extended his lead at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai to two shots as the final round of the 2015 European Tour season got under way at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The Englishman came into the final round with a one shot lead over Rory McIlroy and a birdie-birdie start moved him to 18 under with the Northern Irishman also picking up a shot on the second.
Race to Dubai leader McIlroy needs to finish ahead of nearest rival Danny Willett to be Europe's Number One for a third time and he maintained a four shot cushion over the Englishman who was one under through three holes.
For Sullivan and his army of fans out on the Earth Course, the aim is a fourth win of the year and a chance to move into the top 30 of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Patrick Reed and Byeong-hun An were five shots behind the leader with Willett, Branden Grace, Emiliano Grillo and Thongchai Jaidee all a further shot back.
Willett holed a gutsy six-footer down the hill on the first to save par but it was the South African duo of Grace and Charl Schwartzel who flew out of the blocks.
Both men made birdie-birdie starts to get to 12 under, meaning they had each picked up six shots on the first two holes this week.
Grace made it three in a row on the third as Willett picked up his first birdie of the day on the par five second with playing partner Grillo following suit.
When the final duo got their rounds under way, it was Sullivan who had the honour of being the last player announced by long-time European Tour starter Ivor Robson, who is retiring after 41 years in the role this week.
Both men had birdie opportunities but Sullivan was the only one to take his as he rolled in a fast eight-footer to quickly extend his lead to two shots.
Grace then dropped a shot on the fourth and Willett was in danger of doing the same on the third but holed another six-footer for par.
Sullivan found the sand with his second shot on the second but played out to 12 feet and rolled in another birdie while McIlroy also made a gain after going left of the green with his approach.
An made a birdie on the third to join playing partner Reed at 13 under but that was five shots behind Sullivan who parred the third alongside McIlroy.
Francesco Molinari was in the group at 11 under thanks to the 46th hole in one of the season from 170 yards on the sixth, alongside Søren Kjeldsen, Chris Wood and Schwartzel, who bogeyed the sixth.
World Number five Justin Rose came into this week with a chance to win The Race to Dubai but his hopes disappeared with a third round 78 on Saturday. He bounced back with a closing 66, though, to finish seven under.
Lee Slattery was another Englishman to have a good day and the M2M Russian Open champion came home in 31 to sign for a 65 and set the very early clubhouse target at eight under.
