ABU DHABI ALDAR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

November 7, 2026

Rory McIlroy

Yas Links

Quick Quotes

Q. Rory, 67, 5-underpar, eight birdies, one bogey and one double, how does it leave you feeling?

RORY McILROY: Encouraged, as I played some really good golf out there but also a little rueful. I felt like I had some really good momentum coming off the back of the front nine, then was in a good position on 10. Just the bunker shot came out a lot faster than I anticipated, and then over the green and it was sort of dead from there. I followed another poor shot with another mistake at the third and ended up making a mess and made double.

But fought back and made birdies on the next four holes. So it was a good bounce back, and let it go at the end with the bogey on 17 and not taking advantage at the last.

But overall, good day. Kept myself within touching distance and I have a good shot at it tomorrow, which is all I want.

Q. You've made 25 birdies in three rounds. I don't think you've ever made more in three rounds on the DP World Tour. Is it just a question tomorrow of cleaning up those little mistakes because you've had 8 and a couple of other misdemeanours.

RORY McILROY: I think I even had two bogeys yesterday in the 63. If I can just limit the mistakes, there's enough good golf. There's enough birdies. There's enough opportunities to make birdies out there with the par 5s. A couple of the shorter pore fours. Yeah, I can play a clean round of golf tomorrow, I won't be too far away.

Q. Ten top three finishes in 14 starts. You've shot 62 in the final round last year and earlier this week. You must be feeling there's one out there.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, absolutely. I thought today could have been something similar as well. But yeah, there hasn't been much wind. The course is in perfect condition. The pin positions were a little tougher today. I guess they felt like they were trying to protect the course a little bit and protect from some of the really low scores.

But there's low ones out there and yeah, I'm going to have to go out and shoot a low one, something in the mid to low 60s to get it done tomorrow, and that will be the goal.