Young and Meronk ready for McIlroy showdown in Dubai

Rory McIlroy is seeking what would be an “amazing” fourth win in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic but must come from two stokes behind up-and-coming US star Cameron Young after storming through the field with a breathtaking 63.

Ten strokes behind Young overnight, McIlroy raced to the turn in five-under 30 before following birdie fours at the 10th and 13th with a spectacular eagle three from 45 feet at the 18th.

The world number two’s stunning nine-under 63 was the best score of the day by four strokes and briefly gave him the lead on 12-under.

But overnight leader Young refused to go away despite relinquishing the lead when he followed an opening birdie with a double bogey five after a visit to water at the seventh and a bogey at the eighth.

He went on to birdie the 11th and 17th for a 71 that gave him a two-shot lead over McIlroy and reigning DP World Tour Player of the Year Adrian Meronk on 14-under.

The American (26) has yet to win outside the Korn Ferry Tour, but he believes he has the game to grab his first big win on Sunday.

“I feel like I really played okay,” said Young, who has Dubliner and former Wake Forest teammate Paul McBride on his bag for this week only.

“I didn't putt quite as well as I have the last few days, and with a little bit more wind, it wasn't that easy. 

“I think all in all, it was a good battle. And not obviously trying to be winning by ten after today, but two is better than none.”

Young knew McIlroy was making a charge as he tackled the front nine and he wasn’t surprised to see him post a low score. 

“I saw it,” he said of McIlroy’s 63. “Yeah, I kind of assumed, I think I was talking to my dad before we went out and played that I put the over/under about 64 1/2. I guess it was on the underside of that.

“But yeah, someone like him, I feel like you expect him to do that. Figured he wasn't going to be 30th for long.”

He’s looking forward to the chance to notch his first big win and he will be relishing his pairing with McIlroy in the final group and the challenge from Poland’s Meronk, who shot a battling 70 to share second on 12-under and claimed a place in the penultimate group with Li Haotong (69), who is five behind alongside Ramus Hojgaard (70) on nine-under. 

“I think it will be fun. They are both very good players, and it's a good golf course,” Young added. “So I've played well this week and I'm looking forward to tomorrow and seeing what I can do.”

Anxious to get his first win on a major tour after recording six runner-up finishes in the PGA Tour, he added: “It would be a nice feeling. It's one of those times that you feel like kind of at peace with what you've done, and it's something I would love to do tomorrow.

“But I've put myself in another great place to have a chance, and I'm happy with that. 

“So if I go out and go through the process that we've kind of set up for tomorrow and see what happens.”

McIlroy is the favourite to clinch a record fourth win at Emirates Golf Club since 2009 after he sensationally eagled the last to card a scintillating nine-under 63 and grab the early clubhouse lead.

The world number two was ten strokes behind Young after opening with rounds of 71 and 70.

But he now has a 17th DP World Tour win firmly in his sights after a stunning third-round performance at the Majlis Course, where he is the defending champion.

"I was walking up with putter in my hand, and then as I got closer to the ball, I saw that there was a lot of fringe to go through and I said to Harry, I sort of want to chip it but the lie wasn't great, and I could just see the club bouncing and said I'd just ride my luck with the putter," McIlroy said of his closing eagle putt.

"It came out perfectly, and as soon as it got on the green, it actually wasn't as fast as I thought it was going to be, and it was tracking perfectly, and obviously a huge bonus for something like that to go in.

"But for the rest of the day, I played some very, very good golf, definitely better than I played the last couple of days. Nice to get myself right back in the tournament."

Tied for 24th overnight, the world number two got off the perfect start with a birdie at the first before picking up another shot at the par-five third.

He'd struggled on the tougher front nine over the first two days, playing the demanding stretch from the sixth to the ninth in four-over.

But he bucked that trend earlier today by making three birdies in a row at the seventh, eighth and ninth to turn in five-under 30 before picking up another shot at the 10th.

He then birdied the par-five 13th to get to within four shots of Young on 10-under before that late eagle briefly gave him the lead.

"I just thought if I could play the front nine better — I played the front nine a little scrappily the last couple of days — so I thought if I got off to a good start and I was a couple under through three," McIlroy added.

"And then I thought if I could pick one or two more up over that sort of tough stretch from your five through nine, I ended up picking three up at seven, eight and nine, which was fantastic.

"I think for me, the key to this golf course is always the front nine because it is a tougher nine, and if you can play that nine well, you know you give yourself a ton of momentum going into the more scoreable back nine."

McIlroy has won five Race to Dubais and four majors, but he insists that never losing his love of the game is the key to his success.

"I think the fact that I turn up every day still trying to get better," he said of his proudest achievement. "I think the consistency that I've shown throughout my career, I've never lost the hunger to go out and play better, but I've also never lost the joy of the game, which I think is really important.

"It's never felt like a job to me in the day that does feel like a job is the day I need to give up."

If he wins on Sunday he will become the first man to win the title four times and he reckons he has a great chance.

"It would be awesome,” he said. “I've had so much success in Dubai, whether at this tournament or over Jumeirah Golf Estates and Race to Dubai and it's been a really good place to me, and I love coming back here.

"I really enjoy my time here and yeah, it'd be amazing if I was able to get another one."

Meronk, who felt a low round from McIlroy was “expected”, is also looking forward to the chance to clinch his fifth DP World Tour win since he captured the 2022 IrishOpen at Mount Juliet.

“I'm in a great position going into Sunday,” the Pole said. “I'm excited for tomorrow. I just want to get good rest tonight and get ready for tomorrow and it will be fun.”