Cameron Young will start the final day of the 2024 Hero Dubai Desert Classic with a two-shot lead over defending champion Rory McIlroy at the top.
The American weathered a mid-round stutter to get to 14-under-par by the end of Saturday.
He double-bogeyed the seventh then made another bogey a hole later, to briefly let his lead slip. He recovered with three birdies over the back nine, giving him a slight buffer ahead of the last round.
The identity of Young’s final-round playing partner in the last match out in the tournament was not the one many people might have picked at the start of the penultimate day.
McIlroy began round three 10 shots behind Young, yet charged through the field with a scintillating 9-under 63. That took him to 12-under for the tournament, and a share of second with Adrian Meronk.
“Someone like him, I feel like you expect him to do that,” Young said of McIlroy. “Figured he wasn't going to be 30th for long.
“But I've put myself in another great place to have a chance, and I'm happy with that. If I go out and go through the process that we've set up for tomorrow, we will see what happens.”
If McIlroy does get past Meronk and Young to retain the Dallah trophy, he would become the first four-time winner of the Classic.
“It would be amazing,” McIlroy said. “Being the first player to get my name on it four times would be awesome.
“I've had so much success in Dubai, whether it be at this tournament or over at Jumeirah Golf Estates [at the DP World Tour Championship] and Race to Dubai.
“It's been a really, really good place to me. I love coming back here. I really enjoy my time here. It would be amazing if I was able to get another win.”
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Rory McIlroy acknowledges the crowd after a birdie putt on the ninth green during round three of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on Saturday, January 20, 2023. All photos Getty Images -
Rory McIlroy and Joaquin Niemann walk off the 10th tee at the Emirates Golf Club. -
Cameron Young shakes hands with Andy Sullivan on the 18th green at the Emirates Golf Club -
Cameron Young plays a bunker shot at the 18th hole -
Tommy Fleetwood tees off on the fifth hole during round three of the Dubai Desert Classic -
Rasmus Hojgaard, left, and Nicolai Hojgaard, right, at the first hole of the Emirates Golf Club -
Marcel Siem checks the wind during round three of the Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday -
Louis de Jager plays his second shot on the first hole during round three -
Mike Lorenzo-Vera during round three of the Dubai Desert Classic -
Adrian Meronk tees off on the first hole at Emirates Golf Club -
Tommy Fleetwood looks on from the third hole at Emirates Golf Club -
Joaquin Niemann plays his second shot on the eighth hole -
Thorbjorn Olesen at the Emirates Golf Club -
Callum Shinkwin plays his second shot on the first hole at Emirates Golf Club
