Former Masters champion Patrick Reed opened a four-shot lead going into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic with Rory McIlroy 11 shots behind on Saturday.
The American is a three-time winner on the DP World Tour but will be looking for his first full-field title in the nine-million-dollar event.
Reed finished runner-up to McIlroy at the Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club in 2023 and inside the top 10 last year.
How it stands with 18 holes to play at the first Rolex Series event of the season 📊#HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/XSns36f7r0
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 24, 2026
"You're always excited, showing up on Sunday with a lead," said the 35-year-old Reed, who shot a five-under par 67 to reach 14-under total.
"That's what I feel all of us players live for, to have a chance to win on Sundays and just battle out with all the guys. I know it's not going to be easy, it never is, and it doesn't matter how big of a lead you have.
"So, looking forward to tomorrow and just hopefully go out there and keep doing what I'm doing."
BIRDIE ATTEMPTS FALLING SHORT
Spaniard David Puig was second at 10-under after a six-under par 66, with Norwegian Viktor Hovland, the winner in 2022, moved into contention with a seven-under 65 that put him five shots behind the leader.
World No 2 and four-time Dubai champion McIlroy was tied 27th and 11 shots behind Reed at three-under after making just two birdies and a bogey in his 71.
Reed could have increased his lead, but his birdie attempts from the par-3 15th to the par-4 17th fell just short.
The American was delighted with the way he played, especially having started the round with a bogey.
Patrick Reed birdies the 18th and will take a four-shot lead into Sunday 💪#HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/BTROu3Zv17
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 24, 2026
"At the end, it was definitely a solid and good score. Early in the round, I just didn't really settle out there," said Reed, now ranked 44th in the world.
"The swing finally clicked when I hit a really good drive on the eighth, and from that point on, I felt like it was really solid and I had it locked in."
Puig, 24, is one of the hottest young stars in the game. He has already won on the DP World Tour this season –- at the Australian PGA Championship last December.
He started with three straight birdies, and made just one bogey against seven birdies.
Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton slipped to tied 42nd place after a disappointing 76.