Rory McIlroy: Perfectionist closes the gap in Dubai

McIlroy on the brink of the Race to Dubai title

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His best round of golf since June took Rory McIlroy to the brink of his third Race to Dubai title. The bogey-free 65 also brought a fourth victory of an injury disrupted season into view.

But he was still not happy at the DP World Championship in Dubai. Only McIlroy could walk off the 18th green and launch the putter at the bag after his lowest round at the Earth Course, which tells you what his third-round score might have been had he taken more of his chances.

As it was, McIlroy ate heartily into the four-shot overnight advantage held by Andy Sullivan and starts today’s final round in the last pairing just one adrift of the leader. “It could have been so much better. Hard to walk off this course after a 65 and not feel good about yourself but I could have gone lower,” he said.

He was right. Sullivan holed a 15-footer at the last for par to maintain his slender lead and set up a lively finale. “I’m exactly where I wanted to be in, contention on the last day,” McIlroy added.

“The first two days the range sessions were much better than on the course, but today I played with more freedom and trust in myself. I figured if I was hitting it good on the range, there was no reason I shouldn’t on the course.

“This is my last round of the season, last round of year, and I want to make the most of it. To end with another tournament win and the Race to Dubai title is the aim.”

McIlroy was four under after seven holes, and fired a hat-trick of birdies on the back nine after dropping his only shot of the round at the 12th.

“I played fantastically well. I could have been five-under through five easily. I hit the ball beautifully, and that’s why I’m walking off the course a little bit disappointed – because that 65 could have easily been a 62 or a 61.”

This was the McIlroy of the last round at the US Open in June when he was six under after 13 holes at the ridiculously awkward Chambers Bay. Had he not chosen to play football with his mates, he might have unleashed that sort of form at St Andrews. Instead, he was obliged to watch with his ankle in a cast. Sullivan was rightly proud of a 68, which for the most part represented scrambling of the highest order. And, as he observed, playing in the final group with a one-shot lead against one of the world’s mega-stars is something to be enjoyed.

“There’s no pressure on me. I’m not expected to win, am I? No one is going to expecting me to beat him tomorrow. So for me it’s a nice position to be in, one in front.”

Paul Casey has decided not take up his membership of the European Tour next season and is, therefore, ineligible for the Ryder Cup.

He explained: “I have decided to concentrate on the PGA Tour, which has worked well as I have climbed back up the rankings. I am very sad not to have the chance to qualify for the 2016 European Ryder Cup team, but I believe this decision will help me to be the best I can be and is right for my family.”