Henrik Stenson fired a five-under 67 in the third round of Dubai’s US$8 million DP World Tour Championship on Saturday to retain a one-shot lead, although Ian Poulter — who can pip the Swede to Europe’s money-list title — closed to within four shots.
Stenson can win the Race to Dubai, formerly the European Order of Merit, and a US$1 million bonus with victory at the tour’s season finale, as can Poulter if he prevails over 72 holes at the Earth course and Stenson fails to finish in the top two.
The 37-year-old sank four birdies on the final five holes to move to an aggregate 17-under 199, while Briton Poulter (66) is on 203.
Sandwiched between them is world No. 39 Victor Dubuisson, who rattled in 11 birdies as he equaled this year’s best round of 64.
The in-form Frenchman, winner of last week’s US$7 million Turkish Airlines Open, is on 200, or 16-under, despite making a double-bogey at the par-four 10th.
England’s Justin Rose (68) and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (68), who could also win the money list with victory in Dubai, are off the pace at 11 and 8 under respectively.
OHL CLASSIC
Reuters
The US’ Harris English and Swede Robert Karlsson separated themselves from the pack on Saturday to share the lead midway through the third round of the weather-interrupted OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
The pair moved to 15-under-par, three shots clear of their nearest challengers, when play was suspended because of darkness at the El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
English and Karlsson still had 11 holes to play in the third round after the first two days were also interrupted by foul weather.
English, who won the FedEx St Jude Classic in June, finished off his second round on Saturday morning, adding three more birdies to his overnight score to finish with a nine-under-par 62, the lowest round of his career.
South African Rory Sabbatini (eight holes) and American Kevin Stadler (six holes) were tied for third place at 12-under, while Spain’s Alvaro Quiros (14 holes) and the US’ Jason Bohn (nine holes) and Chris Stroud (eight holes) shared fifth at 11-under.
Defending champion John Huh sat 10 shots adrift at five under through 15 holes in a tie for 32nd.
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