Everything you need to know from day three in Dubai.
Tommy Fleetwood took the lead, Rory McIlroy stayed right in touch, Ali Fatourechi claimed team honours in dramatic fashion and putts were going in from everywhere in round three of the Dubai Invitational.
Here is everything you need to know from Saturday at Dubai Creek Resort.
Fleetwood hits the front
Fleetwood fired a brilliant bogey-free 63 to set up a mouth-watering final-day duel with McIlroy. The Englishman started the third round three shots behind his Ryder Cup team-mate but held a three-shot advantage of his own at one point as he made eight birdies to get to 15 under. McIlroy is made of stern stuff, however, and he also came home in 32 to sign for a 67 and sit just one shot behind with 18 holes to play. Dane Thorbjørn Olesen was at 12 under, one clear of South African duo Thriston Lawrence and Zander Lombard and England's Jordan Smith. "I felt I played very well, got off to the perfect start and got momentum early on, which I didn't have yesterday," said Fleetwood. "I hit a couple of really nice putts early on, was rolling the ball well and hit the greens well. Today they went my way, just a bit of confidence when you start holing some and just get in that rhythm and that flow."
McIlroy relishing the challenge
McIlroy had dominated the first two rounds in the desert, maintaining a two-shot lead earned via an opening 62 despite carding a quadruple-bogey in a 70 on Friday. He needed a strong back nine to get back in touch with Fleetwood on Saturday and was glad to be right in the mix. “It was a little bit of a slow start but then I got things going on the back nine,” said the Northern Irishman. “Shot four under on the back to try to keep up with Tommy. I played well on that back nine and earned myself a tee time with him tomorrow and it’ll be good fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
Ali Fatourechi takes team honours
McIlroy and Fleetwood were also doing battle in the team event, with Fleetwood's partner Ali Fatourechi taking the title in the 54-hole competition at 24 under, with tournament host and McIlroy's partner from Thursday and Saturday Abdulla Al Naboodah finishing on the same total but losing out on final-round score. "It's amazing," said Fatourechi. "Of course, it came to a card-off, we tied, and fortunately Tommy really came in. You just realise (professionals) play a different game. They're so good to watch. It makes you feel so comfortable as an amateur. You're so freed up because they're putting for birdie pretty much all the time. So it's great."
Anything you can do
The back-nine exchange between our leaders was a joy to watch and it was summed up brilliantly as Fleetwood's hat-trick of gains from the 12th was countered by a trio from McIlroy from the 11th. Just superb.
Just the 92 feet....
Ewen Ferguson - wow.
