Getty Images

By Kent Gray
Justin Harding reckons it’ll be just another “day at the office, really”.

With Rory McIlroy just two shots adrift and Ryder Cup stars lurking everywhere behind the Northern Irishman, the South African pacesetter’s premonition of Sunday at the 33rd Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic was kidding no one.

Mind you, the way Harding rode the roller-coaster ride that was moving day at Emirates Golf Club on Saturday, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised if he goes wire-to-wire to a third DP World Tour victory.

The 35-year-old started the third round two ahead, found himself two behind by the 11th and finished two in front again as the sun set on Emirates Golf Club.

A younger man might have said, well, I need to press and catch up because I’m losing ground, but you didn’t and stayed patient?

“I think it’s just that type of golf course,” said Harding. 

“The greens are tough. They are concrete and when you are chipping into them it’s difficult to chip them up close. You find yourself making 4- or 5-footers all day long.

“On the front nine, there are a couple of strong par 4s and 15 and 16 are two holes that you need to get through on the back nine.  I didn’t take advantage of 17 or 18 today. But I’m quite happy with it, and yeah, go again tomorrow.

“I thought I played quite solid. It was a difficult day to be fair, and it had some tough flags to get at. There were times when I didn’t quite put the ball in play, and I couldn’t really go anywhere near them. The one bogey made was from long range with the putter, a bit disappointing and would have loved to have snuck one coming in, 17 or 18, but I was happy with those.

So, to Sunday where a first Rolex Series gold star beckons. You’re in pole position, but wow, there’s some good players chasing down. 

“Look, at the end of the day, I’ve just got to go out and keep doing what I’m doing, and make a couple birdies and shoot 70, 69, something like that, and make them shoot 5- or 6-under par, credit to them.

“Yeah, just another day at the office, really, to be fair.”