Hero Dubai Desert Classic R3: Reed four clear as McIlroy's hopes fade
Hero Dubai Desert Classic: Patrick Reed will take a four-shot lead into the final round of the first Rolex Series event of the year.
Pos | Player name | Score |
1 | Patrick Reed | -14 |
2 | David Puig | -10 |
3 | Andy Sullivan | -9 |
3 | Viktor Hovland | -9 |
5 | Andrea Pavan | -8 |
5 | Francesco Molinari | -8 |
7 | Thorbjørn Olesen | -7 |
7 | Jorge Campillo | -7 |
9 | Julien Guerrier | -6 |
9 | Martin Couvra | -6 |
9 | Hennie du Plessis | -6 |
9 | Christiaan Maas (AM) | -6 |
9 | Nicolai Højgaard | -6 |
9 | Jayden Schaper | -6 |
Patrick Reed will take a four-shot lead over David Puig into the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
American Reed, 35, carded a five-under 67 on Saturday to stay out in front at the first Rolex Series event of the year.
The former Masters champion recorded seven birdies and two birdies at Emirates Golf Club.
He leads fellow LIV Golf recruit Puig by four strokes, who enjoyed a terrific moving day with a six-under 66 to reach 10-under.
"You're always excited, showing up on Sunday with a lead," Reed told Sky Sports when asked about his prospects ahead of the final round.
Reed finished in the top-10 last year and was also previously the runner-up to Rory McIlroy in 2023.
"I feel like that's what I feel like all of us live for as players, competitors, to have a chance to win on Sundays and play late on Sundays and just battle out with all the guys.
"I know it's not going to be easy, it never is, and doesn't matter how big of a lead you have.
[I am] Looking forward to tomorrow and just hopefully go out there and keep doing what I'm doing, putting well and hitting fairways and greens."
Puig is likely to be Reed's biggest challenger but he could face some pressure from England's Andy Sullivan and Norway's Viktor Hovland.
Both players are a further stroke behind on nine-under.
The defending champion, Tyrrell Hatton, laboured to a four-over 76 and is among seven players on one-under.
Tommy Fleetwood's 73 left him towards the bottom of the leaderboard on two-over.
The aforementioned McIlroy carded a one-under 71 and sits on three-under overall.
Northern Ireland's McIlroy registered 15 pars, two birdies and a double-bogey.
Asked about the state of his game, McIlroy replied: "It's January. I am sort of working my way back into form a little bit. It is okay.
"It's not exactly where I want it to be, but it is early. I just want to go out and play a good round tomorrow and end the week on a positive note."
McIlroy also encouraged R&A officials to take The Open back to Muirfield.
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