Rory McIlroy one shot off the lead

Rory McIlroy has shot a four under 68 to trail Haotong Li by a single shot on moving day at the Dubai Desert Classic. 

Haotong Li produced a stunning third round 64 to move into the lead in the Dubai Desert Classic, one shot ahead of Rory McIlroy with the 22-year-old carding eight birdies to add a 64 to his second round 66 at Emirates Golf Club to set the clubhouse target at 20 under par.

Li and McIlroy will be paired together for a second day in succession in the final round, which looks like it could be a thriller. Can Li hold his nerve against a four time major winner, who so desperately wants a fast start to his season?

McIlroy returned to complete his second round in the morning, making five birdies in seven holes to open up a two-shot lead.

He briefly extended that lead to three but with bogeys on the fourth and eighth of his third round, he made the turn in 36 to slip behind Li Haotong.

With an eagle on the tenth and further shots picked up on the 13th, 16th and the 18^th he sits just one shot behind Li Haotong.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I showed that even whenever I didn't have my best stuff today I was able to battle around and get in at a decent score. So hopefully I have a bit of a better game tomorrow.

In third place are Alexander Levy and Haydon Porteous. Levy had a hole-in-one and then knocked in four birdies in a row to card a 65.

Meanwhile the low round of the day went to Andy Sullivan, who shot a 63 to sit in fifth.

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