Tommy Fleetwood tees up Sunday duel with Rory McIlroy in Dubai

England's Tommy Fleetwood will take a one-shot lead over Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Invitational on the DP World Tour.

Ben Smith

13 Jan 2024

Tommy Fleetwood tees up Sunday duel with Rory McIlroy in Dubai

Tommy Fleetwood set up a Sunday duel with Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Invitational.

The Englishman will take a one-shot lead into the final round over the Northern Irishman at Dubai Creek Resort.

Fleetwood, who starred in Europe's Ryder Cup win alongside McIlroy last September, sits atop at the leaderboard at 15-under.

The 32-year-old fired a flawless 8-under par 63 on Saturday whereas McIlroy posted five birdies and one bogey with his 67.

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Remarkably, this is Fleetwood's first 54-hole lead on the DP World Tour in 10 years.

Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen, along with Zander Lombard, Thriston Lawrence and Jordan Smith are in the chasing pack on 11-under.

If Fleetwood were to win then he would claim his seventh title on the European-based circuit whereas McIlroy is looking for his 17th since turning professional in 2007.

The winner of the Dubai Invitational will take home a winner's cheque for $425,000 from the $2.5m purse.

Near hole out eagle for @TommyFleetwood1! #DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/fkL1nLSdWU
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 13, 2024

What they said...

Tommy Fleetwood

"Yeah, I felt I played very well, got off to the perfect start and got momentum early on, which I didn't have yesterday.

"And then, yeah, that little patch through the middle of the back nine, really, where you just start seeing putts going in, it's funny, really, when you get a day like that and you're just looking at them and you just feel like you can come close.

"So, yeah, nice day to be out on the course."

Rory McIlroy

"It was a bit of a slow start again. You know, I -- yeah, it was a little bit of a slow start, but then I got things going on the back nine.

"Shot 4-under on the back to try to keep up with Tommy. And, you know, played well that back nine and earned myself a tee time with him tomorrow, and it'll be good fun. I'm looking forward to it."

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