DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Daniel Hillier ended the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic with two consecutive birdies, finishing with a score of 2-under 70. This performance has given the New Zealand golfer, currently ranked No. 223, a narrow one-stroke lead as he heads into the final round. Hillier is on the hunt for the most significant victory of his golfing career, with his only previous win on the European tour achieved at the British Masters in July 2023. Despite the promising start to this season, Hillier has not recorded a top-10 finish since his performance at the Open de España in October 2023. He stands at a commendable 13-under par for the event so far.

“It would be life-changing,” expressed Hillier, reflecting on the potential impact of a win. “Last year was pretty tough. It was a bit of a grind. I was getting pretty frustrated with myself towards the end of the year. Gave myself a little bit of a break and time to reset, and I’m feeling refreshed. Yeah, excited for tomorrow.”

In pursuit of the title, Tyrrell Hatton finished his round with a score of 68, positioning him as Hillier’s closest competitor. The 26-year-old Hillier finds himself one stroke ahead as Hatton looks to capitalize on his solid performance. Rory McIlroy, aiming for a third consecutive title at this prestigious event, trails significantly, seven strokes off the pace and tied for 12th place following a round of 69. McIlroy struggled on the front nine, finishing 1 over par without making a single birdie, and acknowledged, “I’d need to go out and shoot 63 tomorrow. If the conditions are right, I’ve been able to do that before, especially if you can score on the front nine before the back nine opens up.” He identified a fast start as essential to his chances of reclaiming the lead.

Ewen Ferguson of Scotland, who previously led after round two, saw his score rise to 74, dropping him to third place at 10 under overall and putting him three strokes behind Hillier. Hatton, who is now part of the LIV Golf circuit, proved to be a significant contender with dynamic play that included rolling in an 8-foot eagle putt on the second hole. Despite three bogeys during a challenging stretch, he rallied with four birdies on the back nine. “I remember as a kid waking up early in the morning on Thursday and Friday and being excited to watch the Desert Classic,” stated Hatton, ranked at 17th. “It’s an iconic event on the DP World Tour, and I think anyone out here would love to have it as part of their career achievements.”