Patrick Reed stormed into a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, thanks to a brilliant 67 on Moving Day.
Related: Patrick Reed makes the move at Dubai Desert Classic
The American held a narrow overnight advantage at nine under but was quickly challenged by Francesco Molinari on the front nine. Molinari, who led after 18 holes, opened with three straight birdies to reach double figures before Reed hit back with three birdies and two bogeys in his first seven holes to join him at ten under.
View this post on Instagram
Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, then finished his front nine with a birdie to edge ahead and did not look back, picking up three further shots to climb to 14 under at Emirates Golf Club as he pursues a maiden Rolex Series victory.
Spaniard David Puig surged into solo second following a birdie-birdie finish in a stunning 66 to reach ten under, with 2022 champion Viktor Hovland one shot further back alongside Englishman Andy Sullivan, who bounced back from bogeys at the eighth and ninth with three birdies on the back nine.
View this post on Instagram
Italian pair Molinari and Andrea Pavan were in a share of fifth at eight under, while Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen and Spaniard Jorge Campillo sat at seven under.
Nicolai Højgaard led the group at six under alongside South African trio Jayden Schaper, Hennie du Plessis and amateur Christiaan Maas, as well as French pair Julien Guerrier and Martin Couvra.
Player quotes
Patrick Reed: Obviously at the end, it was definitely solid and good score at the end. There early in the round, just didn’t really settle out.
I think the biggest thing right now is the driving. I feel like I’m driving the ball a little better right now. You know, early this week, just seeing a couple putts go in, after last year, I felt like it was one of those kind of half of the seasons where I felt like I was doing a lot of things really well. I was hitting a lot of putts and the balls weren’t going in. There were a lot of burned edges.
View this post on Instagram
Once I saw it go in this week, seems like the putter is back behaving doing what it’s supposed to, and allows me to free the rest up the rest of my golf game.
You’re always excited, showing up on Sunday with a lead. I feel like that’s what I feel like all of us live for as players, competitors, to have a chance to win on Sundays and play late on Sundays and just battle out with all the guys. I know it’s not going to be easy, it never is, and doesn’t matter how big of a lead you have.
Looking forward to tomorrow and just hopefully go out there and keep doing what I’m doing, putting well and hitting fairways and greens.
