The Northern Irish golfer recorded five birdies in his third round
Season Finale Saturday Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (NI), R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -12 A Ayora (Spa), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (England), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Den)
Notable scores: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Den), J Rose (Eng); -10 S Lowry (Ireland), R MacIntyre (Sco); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (Eng)
The world-class golfer sank three under-par scores over the closing stretch to move into the joint lead of the DP World Tour Championship and close in on his seventh year-end Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy shot a 68 in Dubai, during a round featuring five birdies with one bogey to climb to 13 under, along with Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
English golfers Canter (68), Matt Fitzpatrick (66), Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Hatton (67) sit at 12 under, together with Spanish player Angel Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a bit of a battling day," said the golfer. "The conditions were tricky enough but happy with shooting the score that I did."
The 36-year-old holds a 767-point lead in the season-long rankings as he goes for his fourth straight Race to Dubai title.
Hatton along with fellow Englishman Marco Penge are the only two who can stop McIlroy from winning the annual championship.
The English golfer must win the tournament and have his rival to finish outside tied for eighth to win it.
"I'm in a better position compared to him [Hatton]," stated McIlroy. "My focus is on my game. If I play and perform at the level I can achieve, particularly on this golf course, I know that I'll succeed.
"It would be an amazing way to end the season."
Marco Penge shot a better 68 in round three after scores of 74 and 70, but looks unlikely to challenge at four-under-par.
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