DUBAI: Defending champion Henrik Stenson and Spain's Rafa Cabrera-Bello opened up a three-shot lead after the third round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship on Saturday.

Stenson posted four birdies in a 4-under 68 to join Cabrera-Bello who birdied four of his closing five holes in a 7-under 65. Both players have an overall 14-under 202 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

England's Justin Rose shot a 68 for third place, one shot clear of top-ranked Rory McIlroy (70), Victor Dubuisson (67), Tyrrell Hatton (68) and Thorbjorn Olesen (69).

McIlroy had back-to-back double bogeys at the 12th and 13th while Olesen was left counting the cost of an 18th-hole double bogey.

If he wins, Stenson will finish the 2014 European Tour season as runner-up to McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.

"To win would be very pleasing as I've had a solid year, but I haven't got a trophy yet," Stenson said. "There is still a lot of golf to play and Rafa, he's had a 64 and a 65, so he seems to be on fire."

The 30-year-old Cabrera-Bello, who had an opening round 73, is no stranger to winning in Dubai after capturing the Dubai Desert Classic title in 2012.

"The round was a little bit crazy, because I haven't felt I've played perfect at all," Cabrera-Bello said. "I had to work really, really hard, especially at the beginning but I managed to hang in there and end up shooting 3 under on the front nine when I could have easily shot 2 or 3 over."

McIlroy remains quietly confident of a sixth victory this year despite the pair of double bogeys.

The four-time Major winner three-putted the par-four 12th hole and missed the green at the next. McIlroy had trouble with two wedge shots on the 13th and trails the leaders by four shots.

Scott four back going into Australian Masters finale

In Melbourne, defending champion Adam Scott admitted Saturday that he was "battling" at the Australian Masters as he moved to within four shots of the lead going into the final round.

Scott, chasing his third straight Masters title, said he plans on attacking the pin early in Sunday's final round in Melbourne to put the heat on the front-runners.

Australian Paul Spargo is the leader at eight-under par, one shot clear of fellow countryman Michael Wright, who led over the first two rounds.

Despite being four shots off the lead Scott, the 2013 Augusta Masters champion, still feels he is a strong chance of triumphing.

Scott fired a one-under 71 in the third round to sit four-under on 212 and admitted he was "battling" to find any momentum so far in the tournament.

"If I can get off to a fast start and post a (low) number it will make them (leaders) think," Scott said. "There's some tough finishing holes here.

"I need to get bolder. I've been a little cautious but I can't afford to be tomorrow."

Spargo has had good recent form finishing tied for third at last month's Western Australian Open.

"The more you put yourself up there in contention and playing with the leaders you get used to it so all the experience will definitely help," Spargo said.

"I've come a long way in a couple of years and my game's been good so I've done my time and this is the next step."