Matt Wallace after shooting 60 on DP World Tour: "Didn't think there was a 59"

Matt Wallace birdies every single hole on back nine in third round of DP World Tour Championship.

18 Nov 2023

Matt Wallace after shooting 60 on DP World Tour: "Didn't think there was a 59" — Matt Wallace after shooting 60 on DP World Tour: "Didn't think there was a…

England's Matt Wallace has equalled the most birdies made in one round and the most consecutive birdies made on the DP World Tour in the third round of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

Wallace, 33, started the third round well off the pace seven strokes behind at 4-under par.

He birdied three holes on the front nine to progress to 7-under par, but still found himself with plenty to do to get back in contention.

Wallace, who won his maiden PGA Tour title earlier this season at the Corales Puntacana Championship, then proceeded to birdie every single hole to the house for nine consecutive birdies to equal a DP World Tour record.

The Englishman recorded 12 birdies in his round of 60 to also equal the most birdies in one round on the former European Tour circuit.

Wallace was so in the zone during the third round he did not even realise there was a 59 on the cards as he played the par-5 18th.

The only previous player to shoot a 59 on the DP World Tour was his compatriot Oliver Fisher at the 2018 Portugal Masters.

Wallace, who now leads heading into Sunday, revealed after his round:

"What a day, an amazing day. Just tried my hardest to get myself back into the tournament. I'm really happy that I've been able to do that. Played great.

"Again at the end, I didn't even think there was a 59. Honestly I think it helped me a little bit. I just played nicely coming down the stretch, just keep getting one more if I could and I managed to do that.

"But yeah, kind of gutted now actually a little bit. Great opportunity to do it [shoot 59]. I've done it at Moorpark on the West Course which is only a par 68, but to do it out there would have been really special today.

"Ball in hand helps. I had a couple good lies for up-and-down, but it was fantastic and a good effort for 59."

Wallace now finds himself bang in the mix for a fifth DP World Tour title having moved into a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the tournament at 16-under par.

UNBELIEVABLE @mattsjwallace #DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Pqpa4InEhd
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 18, 2023

European Ryder Cup stars Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood are one back in second on 15-under par having both shot rounds of 66.

Defending champion Jon Rahm carded a 67 to move to 11-under par in T9, while Rory McIlroy enjoyed a vastly improved day out there with a 7-under 65 to haul himself up to 8-under par in T19.

McIlroy is this week using the brand new TaylorMade Qi10 LS Driver for the first time in competition ahead of its official 2024 launch.

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