DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier birdied his last two holes to edge ahead by one shot going into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday, while four-time champion Rory McIlroy was seven strokes off the lead.

At the Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club, Hillier enjoyed a three-shot lead midway through the back nine as swirling wind made for tough scoring conditions. 

However, the world No. 223 made three successive bogeys from the 13th to 15th holes to open the doors for his rivals before the strong finish took him to 13-under par 203 aggregate.

“It was a grind. I figured it was going to be that at the start of the day with all that wind,” Hillier said.

“It was tough but I enjoyed it out there and looking forward to having a crack at it tomorrow... A win would be life-changing.”

The 26-year-old Hillier served notice with two wins on the Challenge Tour before his triumph at the 2023 British Masters. But 2024 was a difficult year as he went without a single top-10 finish in 27 starts.

McIlroy is looking to become the first player to win the same tournament three years in a row on the DP World Tour since Ernie Els at the Heineken Classic (2002-2004).

The world No.3 seemed to be going nowhere after making the turn at one-over par, but battled the elements and made four birdies on the back nine. 

McIlroy was tied 12th at six-under total, seven behind the leader.

He was still upbeat about his chances, but he insisted he needed some help from the weather. The Northern Irishman had charged from being 10 shots behind at the halfway stage last year.

“I would say the winning score will go much past 15, depending on the conditions, obviously,” said McIlroy.

“So, I’d need to go out and shoot 63 tomorrow. If the conditions are right, I’ve been able to do that before, especially if you can make a score on the front nine before that scorable back nine.”

Hillier (70) finished one ahead of the in-form LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton. 

Hatton, the world No.17 who has not finished outside the top-six in his last three DP World Tour starts, shot a 68 to reach 12-under par total.

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson (74) birdied on the last to finish solo third at 10-under, while Kiwi Ryan Fox (69) and England’s Laurie Canter (71) were tied fourth at 9-under 207.

Hatton made an eagle two early in his round on the 356-yard par-4 second hole when he drove the green and made an eight-foot eagle putt. There were three bogeys on the tough front nine, but the 33-year-old made up for it with four birdies on the back nine.

“It was pretty tough out there, to be honest,” said Hatton. “The wind was swirling around... But I’m happy with the finish.”

Hatton lost his cool on the seventh hole and took his frustrations out on a tee marker, earning the Englishman a talking-to by officials.

“Yes, I probably shouldn’t have done it,” Hatton told BBC Sport. “Does it make me a bad person? No. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. It happened. I can’t go back and change it so just move on.”