Anirban Lahiri lying T35; Rory McIlroy makes a big move

November 21, 2015: The past few weeks have turned into a physical and mental battle for Anirban Lahiri. The 42nd ranked Indian suffered yet another day of mixed fortunes as he swung like a pendulum between good, bad and ugly before posting an even 72 at the DP World Tour Championships.

Anirban remained 4-under through 54 holes despite making as many as six birdies in the third round. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy showed tremendous class and determination to shoot 65 and pile the pressure on Andy Sullivan. The overnight lead did a terrific job himself, to respond quietly with an efficient 68 to keep his nose in front. The Brit is leading the former world No.1 by one shot with a 54 hole score of 16-under 200.

Lahiri slipped to three over for the day when he made a bogey and a double at the 10th and 11th holes – it took a great deal of concentration and three birdies over the last five holes to get back to even terms with the course.

“It was a weird day, as I struggled a bit with my knee.” Lahiri told the Indian media at the venue. “I don’t think it is bad, but I have to go and see it, when I get back. I have one more start and then I will get some good rest and work on my rehab,” informed Lahiri.

“As I said, I am not playing bad. I got six birdies, and missed a couple of makable birdie putts like on 17th from eight feet,” asserted Lahiri. “You don’t drop as many as six shots. You may drop a couple, but not six. And the golf course is not playing tough,” he added.

Rory McIlroy moved into prime position to win The Race to Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates but will need to overcome Andy Sullivan on Sunday if he is to claim a second DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

The 2012 champion was in inspired form in the third round as he fired a 65 to get within a shot of leader Sullivan and, just as importantly, four shots clear of closest rival Danny Willett in the battle to be Europe’s Number One.

Sullivan is going for a fourth European Tour title of the season and birdied two of his last four holes in a 68 to move to 16 under and within touching distance of a second wire-to-wire win in six weeks after his victory at the Portugal Masters.

Willett, meanwhile, needs to finish above McIlroy to overturn the slim 1,613-point gap in The Race to Dubai and deny the Northern Irishman a third European crown.

Patrick Reed was three shots behind the leader with Byeong-hun An and Emiliano Grillo at 12 under and Willett, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Thongchai Jaidee a further shot back.