01/24/26 08:00:00
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01/24 07:58 CST Reed leads by 4 shots at Dubai Desert Classic as McIlroy's
title hopes fade and Hovland surges
Reed leads by 4 shots at Dubai Desert Classic as McIlroy's title hopes fade and
Hovland surges
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) --- Patrick Reed will take a four-stroke lead
into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic after shooting 5-under 67 on
Saturday, as Rory McIlroy's chances of a record-extending fifth title virtually
disappeared.
Reed, the former Masters champion who now plays on the LIV Golf circuit, tapped
in at No. 18 for his seventh birdie of the third round at Emirates Golf Club to
move onto 14-under 202 for the week.
Leading the chase was David Puig, another LIV player, who shot 66 to jump to
second place. A further shot back was Viktor Hovland, who had a 65 that tied
the lowest round of the day, and Andy Sullivan (71).
"I know it's not going to be easy, it never is, and doesn't matter how big of a
lead you have," said Reed, who won nine times on the PGA Tour --- including at
Augusta National in 2018 --- before joining LIV in 2022.
As a LIV player, the American won LIV Golf in Dallas last year and then in Hong
Kong on the Asian Tour in 2024.
As for No. 2-ranked McIlroy, the tournament headliner started the round seven
strokes behind overnight leader Reed and talking up his chances of a weekend
charge on a course where he has won four times.
The Northern Irishman made par on each of his first nine holes and bogeyed the
last after missing a 2-foot par putt to shoot 71, and was 11 back.
Tommy Fleetwood, ranked No. 3, has yet to break par this week after adding a 73
to rounds of 73 and 72.
Another high-profile name, Tyrrell Hatton, made six bogeys in a 76 to drop to a
tie for 42nd.
Puig has already won on the European tour in the 2026 season --- at the
Australian PGA Championship in November --- and the 24-year-old Spaniard was
tied for third at the Dubai Invitational last week.
Hovland eyes second title
Hovland's last win on the European tour was at the Dubai Desert Classic in
2022, when he started the final round six back and triumphed in a playoff over
Richard Bland.
The No. 14-ranked Norwegian has changed his swing in recent years and still
doesn't feel entirely comfortable, despite being bogey-free on Saturday.
"Still doesn't feel like I can stand on the tee and kind of swing for the
fences and swing loosely," said Hovland, who is playing his first event of
2026. "It's all very contrived and manufactured, and it happened to go straight
today. If I get off the tee and in a decent position, I can really do some
damage.
"But I really would like to be able to stand on the tee box and swing hard and
know that the ball is going to go fairly straight."
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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