Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald go head to head in Dubai
World's top two players will duel in today's final round of the last European Tour event of 2012
It will be a clash between the world No 1 and No 2 on today's final day of the US$8 million DP World Tour Championship after Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald opened up a three-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
At the Earth course of the Jumeirah Golf Estates, the world's top two ranked players shot matching rounds of five-under-par 67 each and were tied at 17-under par 199.
The South African duo of world No6 Louis Oosthuizen (68) and 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (69) were tied for third place at 14-under par 202, while their compatriot Branden Grace was another two shots behind at 204 and tied fifth with Netherlands' Joost Luiten.
Donald has now gone exactly 100 holes without a bogey at the Earth course, a streak that started from the ninth hole of his second round last year. Yesterday, he went out in 32 and made two further birdies on the back nine.
"Again, another solid round and in a great position. It will be a fun end to the season. Obviously playing with Rory, No1 and No2 in the world, and the last round for both of us in 2012," said the Chicago-based Englishman.
"I played very solid. Picked off the par-5s and made a couple other birdies. Very much in control of the ball, and it's always enjoyable to play this game when that happens.
"The streak is a little hard to fathom even for myself. That's some good going. It's something I'll store away in the memory banks and use to my advantage down the road."