Westwood in pole to win Dubai race

Lee Westwood is now a massive favourite to win the European Tour money list tomorrow after Rory McIlroy had a nightmare finish to his Dubai World Championship third round.

McIlroy bogeying the last three holes in nightmare fashion.

It makes the 36-year-old Englishman a massive favourite for a spectacular - and lucrative - double and a reclaiming of the Tour crown he last held nine years ago.

He leads the tournament by two from fellow Englishman Ross McGowan, one of only two players to match his 66 on the day, and is five clear of McIlroy, Padraig Harrington (69) and Alexander Noren.

McIlroy was six-under-par himself for the day after birdies on the 14th and 15th, the holes he had three-putted for costly bogeys 24 hours earlier.

That put him in a share of the lead with Westwood, but only for a minute. The world number five made an 18-footer for a matching birdie at the 14th and then the Northern Ireland youngster, who brought a €114,000 Order of Merit lead into the deciding event, imploded.

McIlroy was unlucky on the 16th when he got a flyer from the rough and hit a wedge an amazing 170 yards. It went over the green and although it stopped inches from the lake he chipped 15 feet past - after taking off his right shoe and sock and rolling up a trouser leg - and missed the putt back.

Trying to become the youngest Tour number one since Seve Ballesteros in 1976, the 20-year-old then three-putted the short 17th.

But most criminally of all his third shot to the 620-yard last came up short in the water and a six went on his card. 'It just a bad shot,' he said after signing for a 69 and 10 under total.

'I got myself in the position I wanted to be in. After that finish I've left myself an uphill task. But I've still got a shot a shot to win this - I feel a low round is in me and I feel it's necessary. The guys ahead of me are playing well.'

McIlroy will be encouraged by what happened in his last two tournaments. In Shanghai a fortnight ago he closed with a course record-equalling 63 for a share of third spot and at the Hong Hong Open last week it was a 64 to be runner-up.

He would take either of those scores here, but whether it be enough remains to be seen. McGowan is a member of the same stable and only last month he captured his first Tour win in Madrid - and shot a round of 60 in the process.