Henrik Stenson had four birdies in the last five holes to stay ahead after three rounds of the $US8 million World Tour Championship in Dubai on Saturday, but the Swede was feeling the heat from in-form Frenchman Victor Dubuisson.
At the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, Stenson closed with a five-under par 67 for a three-day tally of 17-under par 199, but that was good enough for just a one-shot lead over the 23-year-old Dubuisson, clearly enjoying the form of his life.
The winner of last week’s Turkish Airlines Open played an astonishing round of eight-under par 64. He made as 11 birdies during the round, after opening with a bogey on the first and then making a double bogey on the 10th.
Dubuisson has a chance of winning the Race to Dubai but he will have to win on Sunday and then hope Stenson fades away to be tied 31st or worse.
Stenson’s closest rival in becoming the new European No.1 was England’s Ian Poulter, who shot a round of six-under par 66 and was tied third alongside Spaniard Alezandro Canizares (70) at 13-under par 203.
The other two in contention for the top spot – England’s Justin Rose and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell – both shot rounds of four-under par 68, but lost further ground to Stenson. Rose was tied sixth at 11-under par, while McDowell was at eight-under par.
Defending champion and former world No.1 Rory McIlroy, who said after the second round that he possibly needed two 65s to win the trophy again, could only get a 67 and was seven shots behind Stenson at 10-under par 206.
Australian Marcus Fraser started the day tied second but carded a 72 to fall nine shots behind Stenson at 8-under par 208.
“It was a bit of a tough day for me. I didn’t pick up any birdies early on, and then made two on the fifth and seventh, before turning the momentum the wrong way with a poor second shot on the 10th, where I hit my sand wedge second shot at least an inch behind the ball,” said Stenson.
“But I stayed patient, and three birdies on the trot from 14th kind of got me back on the track.”
As for his plans on Sunday, Stenson said: “There’s no point getting ahead of myself. There’s till one more day to go … I know the guys are going to try their hardest to attack again tomorrow.”
“Victor is playing incredible golf at the moment,” he added.
