RORY MCILROY HAD to dig deep on Saturday to stay in contention at the Dubai Desert Classic but he remains eight shots off the lead, which is held by Danny Willett.
Willett fired a second successive 65 to claim a slender advantage over Rafael Cabrera-Bello ahead of the final round.
Willett trailed the Spaniard by one at the halfway stage of the tournament, but offset his solitary bogey on Saturday with six birdies and a fine eagle at the 13th.
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As a result, last year’s Race to Dubai runner-up ended his third round at 16 under, one clear of Cabrera-Bello with Andy Sullivan a stroke further back and Joost Luiten fourth at 13 under.
Cabrera-Bello managed an eagle of his own when holing a bunker shot at the par-five third, before mixing five birdies with two bogeys as he carded 67 for the third day running.
Sullivan, meanwhile, has now gone 53 holes without dropping a shot after starting the tournament on Thursday with a seven at the 10th hole.
However, it was Willett who was the star performer among the leaders - his score bettered only by Joachim B Hansen, a late replacement for the injured Thomas Bjorn, who started the back nine with an eagle and four birdies on his way to a 64.
When Willett did slip up, with a bogey at the 12th, he bounced back immediately by finding the target with a curling 30-foot eagle putt at the next.
A birdie at 17 ensured the Englishman remained in front, with Cabrera-Bello unable to find a four at the last that would have given him a share of top spot.
Scott Hend played the final six holes in six under to complete a 66 and reach 11 under, while defending champion McIlroy (68) was eight off the pace despite coming home in 31 strokes on Saturday.
Ernie Els, who began round three alongside Willett, tumbled down the leaderboard courtesy of a 74.
McIlroy goes low on the home straight to give himself fighting chance in Dubai
RORY MCILROY HAD to dig deep on Saturday to stay in contention at the Dubai Desert Classic but he remains eight shots off the lead, which is held by Danny Willett.
Willett fired a second successive 65 to claim a slender advantage over Rafael Cabrera-Bello ahead of the final round.
Willett trailed the Spaniard by one at the halfway stage of the tournament, but offset his solitary bogey on Saturday with six birdies and a fine eagle at the 13th.
As a result, last year’s Race to Dubai runner-up ended his third round at 16 under, one clear of Cabrera-Bello with Andy Sullivan a stroke further back and Joost Luiten fourth at 13 under.
Cabrera-Bello managed an eagle of his own when holing a bunker shot at the par-five third, before mixing five birdies with two bogeys as he carded 67 for the third day running.
Sullivan, meanwhile, has now gone 53 holes without dropping a shot after starting the tournament on Thursday with a seven at the 10th hole.
However, it was Willett who was the star performer among the leaders - his score bettered only by Joachim B Hansen, a late replacement for the injured Thomas Bjorn, who started the back nine with an eagle and four birdies on his way to a 64.
When Willett did slip up, with a bogey at the 12th, he bounced back immediately by finding the target with a curling 30-foot eagle putt at the next.
A birdie at 17 ensured the Englishman remained in front, with Cabrera-Bello unable to find a four at the last that would have given him a share of top spot.
Scott Hend played the final six holes in six under to complete a 66 and reach 11 under, while defending champion McIlroy (68) was eight off the pace despite coming home in 31 strokes on Saturday.
Ernie Els, who began round three alongside Willett, tumbled down the leaderboard courtesy of a 74.
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Andy Sullivan Danny Willett European Tour Golf Joost Luiten Omega Dubai Desert Classic Rafael Cabrera-Bello Review Rory McIlroy