No. 2-ranked McIlroy needs to win at Jumeirah Golf Estates
and hope No. 1 Luke Donald finishes no better than ninth to claim the European
money title. Donald hopes to become the first golfer to win the European and
American titles.
McIlroy admitted the failed last-hole gamble makes it
unlikely he can overtake Donald for the European money title, though he
insisted he wasn't conceding it yet.
"I've got a bit of an uphill battle on my hands now to
try and win the tournament," he said. "But it's still very possible.
I'm only five shots back with 36 holes to go which you can make up in nine
holes ... I've got to stay very patient and bide my time." Donald helped
his cause, finishing with three birdies in a row to post a 4-under 68, tied for
12th.
"It was a struggle today. I've been making a few
uncharacteristic mistakes, not sure what that is down to, maybe just the
situation and what is at stake," said Donald, who has finished outside the
top 10 on the European Tour only three times this year.
"But yeah, to make three birdies in a row will make
lunch taste great and hopefully make the next two days a little easier." McIlroy,
with his second straight bogey on 18, carded 71 to lie five shots behind
Spanish leader Alvaro Quiros, who eagled the 18th for a 64.
Quiros' bogey-free low round of the day included six
birdies. He's at 12-under 132 for the tournament, four shots clear of Sweden's
Peter Hanson (72). England's Robert Rock (69) was a further shot behind at 7
under, tied with McIlroy.
McIlroy started out strong, much as he did on Thursday, with
two birdies on the front nine. But on the back nine they were offset by three
bogeys. On the 18th, he gambled on his approach shot and ended up in water.
"You know, 3 under after 16 holes. If I had picked one
up at the last two which I was trying to do and get to 10-under par for the
tournament, it would have been a really good day," McIlroy said. "But
unfortunately it wasn't the case." McIlroy said the effects of a lingering
illness didn't have an impact, adding he "didn't feel too bad." He
said he came down with a mild case of dengue fever while he was in South Korea
and China in October and early November. Blood results came back on Thursday
that showed his "platelet count was low and my white blood cell count was
low as well." McIlroy said he will see a doctor again on Saturday before
deciding whether to pull out of the Thailand Golf Championship next week.
"To be honest, I'm ready for the season to be done,"
said McIlroy, who never considered pulling out of the Dubai Championship.
"But you know, it's up to her (the doctor) at the end of the day. If she
feels like I can go, then I'll make the decision whether I can go or not."
For Donald, it looked like he was headed for another disappointing day.
An errant drive on the first hole led to a bogey, but he
bounced back with two birdies in a row. He then managed one birdie to go with a
bogey over the next 11 holes as he struggled to keep his drives on the fairway.
But on the final three holes, the Englishman ran off three
straight birdies. On the 18th, Donald's drive landed in a pile of wood chips in
the rough, but his 200-yard approach shot fell on the green and he sank a
12-footer for birdie.
"Well, it was certainly a lot of pressure out
there," Donald said. "It's just that I've got to handle it. I'm
making a little bit too many unforced errors and I need to play the weekend
like Luke Donald knows how to play." Quiros, who lost to McIlroy in Hong
Kong last week after leading by three shots going into the final round, said
the difference this week has been his putter, notably saving par on 10 and
getting an eagle on 18.
"From my point of view, it's a very positive
thing," he said. "If I'm able to lead a European Tour event in a golf
course that doesn't fit me, it means I'm an improving golfer. That is what I
want." The same could not be said for 1999 British Open champion Paul
Lawrie. The Scot briefly held the lead on Friday after three birdies on his
first four holes. But then he double-bogeyed the 12th and bogeyed three of his
last four holes to finished with a 73. He was 6 under overall and tied for
fifth with Paul Casey of England.
"Played the same as yesterday to start with and then
just drove the ball all over the place," Lawrie said. "Drove the ball
as bad as I can remember. So when you do that and you don't hole a putt,
there's a fair chance you're going to shoot over par." No. 3-ranked Lee
Westwood (70) was at 2 under, and No. 4 Martin Kaymer (71) on par for the
tournament.
