Tommy Fleetwood fired a brilliant bogey-free 63 to set up a mouthwatering final-day duel with Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Invitational.

The Englishman started the third round three shots behind his Ryder Cup team-mate but held a three-shot advantage of his own at one point as he made eight birdies to get to 15 under at Dubai Creek Resort.

“I felt I played very well, got off to the perfect start and got momentum early on, which I didn’t have yesterday,” said Fleetwood.

“And then, yeah, that little patch through the middle of the back nine, where you just start seeing putts going in. It’s funny when you get a day like that and you’re just looking at them and you just feel like you can come close.”

McIlroy is made of stern stuff, however, and he also came home in 32 to sign for a 67 and sit just one shot behind with 18 holes to play.

Fleetwood has won twice in the United Arab Emirates down the road in Abu Dhabi but is looking for a first win in Dubai and seventh on the DP World Tour.

The 32-year-old finished 2023 with a runner-up finish at the DP World Tour Championship and after flying in from the PGA TOUR season-opener in Hawaii, he takes a lead into the final round of a DP World Tour event for the first time since 2014.

The duo were also doing battle in the team event, with Fleetwood’s partner Ali Fatourechi taking the title in the 54-hole competition at 24 under, with tournament host and McIlroy’s partner from Thursday and Saturday Abdulla Al Naboodah finishing on the same total but losing out on final-round score.

Tommy Fleetwood, Ali Fatourechi, Abdulla Al Naboodah, tournament host, and Eric Nicoli, European Tour Group Chairman – Getty Images

Dubai based Thorbjørn Olesen was at 12 under in the individual event, one clear of South African duo Thriston Lawrence and Zander Lombard and England’s Jordan Smith.

Poland’s Adrian Meronk sits in solo 10th, while fellow Dubai resident Ewen Ferguson, is a further place back in 11th.

Images: Getty Images