DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Daniel Hillier birdied the ultimate two holes to shoot 2-under 70 on Saturday and take a one-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical of the Dubai Desert Traditional because the No. 223-ranked New Zealander goes for the most important win of his profession.
Tyrrell Hatton shot 68 within the third spherical and was the closest challenger to the 26-year-old Hillier, whose solely win on the European tour got here on the British Masters in July 2023. He hasn’t had a top-10 end for the reason that Open de España in October 2023.
Hillier was 13-under par for the week.
“It could be life-changing,” Hillier stated.
“Final yr was fairly robust. It was a little bit of a grind. I used to be getting fairly annoyed with myself in the direction of the tip of the yr. Gave myself a bit of little bit of a break and time to reset, and I am feeling refreshed. Yeah, excited for tomorrow.”
Rory McIlroy, looking for a 3rd straight title on the prestigious event, was seven pictures off the tempo in a tie for twelfth place after a spherical of 69. He was 1 over after the entrance 9, having did not make a single birdie.
“I would must exit and shoot 63 tomorrow,” the No. 3-ranked McIlroy stated. “If the circumstances are proper, I have been ready to try this earlier than, particularly if you can also make a rating on the entrance 9 earlier than that scorable again 9.
“My key tomorrow is that if I can get off to a quicker begin and shoot three or 4 (below) on the entrance, then I’ve an opportunity.”
Ewen Ferguson of Scotland led after the second spherical however might solely shoot 74 to drop to 3rd place on 10 below, three strokes behind Hillier.
Hatton, who performs on the LIV Golf circuit, seems to be the most important risk to Hillier. The seven-time winner of a European tour title rolled in an 8-foot putt for eagle at No. 2 after which recovered from three bogeys in a six-hole span to shut the entrance 9 with 4 birdies and 5 pars coming house.
“I bear in mind as a child waking up early within the morning on Thursday and Friday and being excited to look at the Desert Traditional,” the Seventeenth-ranked Hatton stated. “It is an iconic occasion on the DP World Tour, and I believe it is definitely a kind of occasions that you might most likely ask any participant out right here, and it is one which they’d like to have on their CV.”
