American golfer Patrick Reed has established a commanding four-shot lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic following an impressive third-round performance at the Emirates Golf Club. Reed carded a composed 67, featuring seven birdies and two bogeys, to reach 14 under par for the tournament, significantly extending his advantage over the field.
Reed's Steady Surge to the Summit
Reed, who began the day with a one-stroke lead, quickly faced competition from Francesco Molinari, the Italian who led after the opening round. Molinari started strongly with three consecutive birdies, but Reed responded resiliently after an early bogey on the first hole. Birdies on the second and third holes allowed Reed to join Molinari at the top of the leaderboard.
Despite a dropped shot at the sixth, Reed birdied the seventh to return to 10 under par. Once he seized the outright lead with another birdie at the ninth, he never looked back. The 2018 Masters champion added further birdies at the 10th, 13th, and 18th holes, showcasing his precision and composure under pressure.
Chasing Pack and McIlroy's Struggles
David Puig emerged as Reed's closest challenger, carding a brilliant 66 to sit four shots behind at 10 under par. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, who famously won this event from 10 shots back in 2024, struggled to gain momentum. McIlroy parred the front nine and managed only two birdies, at the 10th and 14th, before finishing with a bogey to card a 71. He now sits tied for 27th at three under par, 11 shots adrift of Reed.
Andy Sullivan and Ryder Cup star Viktor Hovland are tied for third at nine under par, with Italian duo Francesco Molinari and Andrea Pavan one shot further back. The leaderboard sets the stage for an exciting final round, with Reed in a prime position to secure victory.
Reed's Confident Outlook
Reflecting on his performance, Reed expressed excitement about leading into Sunday. "You're always excited showing up on Sunday with a lead," he said. "It's what we live for as players, and as competitors, is to have a chance on Sundays, and play late on Sundays, and battle it out with the guys. I know it's not going to be easy, it never is, it doesn't matter how big of a lead you have, but I can't wait for it and looking forward to tomorrow."
As the tournament heads into its final day, all eyes will be on Reed to see if he can maintain his dominance and clinch the title at the prestigious Dubai event.
