Bob MacIntyre excited about last-day 'shoot-out' as he chases Dubai win

The 24-year-old Oban man, who secured his breakthrough victory in the Cyprus Showdown last month, covered the first seven holes in a blistering seven-under-par in the third round of the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.

That burst moved him to within a shot of the overnight leader, Englishman Andy Sullivan, and two pars to close the front nine on the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates saw the Scot turn in 29 - the best of the week.

After seeing his momentum halted by a three-putt double-bogey at the par-3 11th, MacIntyre was slightly disappointed that he then had to settle for a six-under 66, missing a tiddler for a birdie at the last.

But, sitting on 16-under-par and among 11 players within just five shots of Sullivan as he remained out in front, the left-hander is excited to be in the mix again heading into the final day so soon after that welcome first win.

“Obviously happy with six-under par, I’d have taken that before I went out,” MacIntyre told Sky Sports Golf afterwards. “But, after the start I had, I should really have scored a lot better.

“But that’s the way things happen and I’ve got another day to fix it.”

He was furious with himself after failing to finish with a birdie, having earlier been unlucky with a couple of outrageous curling attempts to pick up shots on the back nine.

“It happened the other day, so it’s nothing new,” added last year’s Rookie of the Year of how he planned to reset for the last day.

“To finish the way I did wasn’t so sweet and you want it not to happen, but it’s just part and parcel of the game.”

MacIntyre sits 61st in the world rankings and can get close to breaking into the top 50 for the first time with a big finish.

“There’s still going to be pressure,” he replied to being asked what difference that breakthrough success would make. If I’ve not got nerves on the first tee, I’m not in the right job.

“I think it’s going to be like a shoot-out again, that suits my game. I’m playing great. I’m putting good, just need to tidy it up a little bit and see where we end up.”

That brilliant early burst was illuminated by an eagle at the par-5 seventh, where he rolled in a 21-foot putt.

“I had 256 yards and it was sitting alright in the rough,” he said. “I hit a 5-wood and it normally goes 250 on the button. It was slightly downwind and I hit it perfectly and it left me a nice putt.”

Marc Warren (68) and Craig Howie (70) are also in the top 15 on 14-under, two ahead of double Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion Stephen Gallacher after he stormed up the leaderboard with a 66 and also Grant Forrest (70).Sullivan, who had opened with rounds of 61-66, added a 68 to hold a two-shot lead over fellow Englishman Matt Wallace (67), with Italian Renato Paratore (65) and another English player Ross Fisher (68) both on 18-under.

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