• Dubai World Championship, Round Three

McIlroy concedes defeat as Quiros maintains lead

Luke Donald strikes a wedge from the fairway © Getty Images

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Alvaro Quiros will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Dubai World Championship, on a day that saw Luke Donald end any realistic hopes Rory McIlroy has of claiming the Race to Dubai title.

McIlroy, in contention at the start of the day in an event he needs to win to overhaul Donald, struggled with his swing all round as he went out in 39, before birdies on the back nine helped him salvage a score of 71.

But he nevertheless dropped to the fringes of the tournament's top ten as his rival carded an impressive 66 that saw him emerge as one of Quiros' closest challengers, putting Donald comfortably on course for at least the top eight finish he needs to become the first player to win both main tour money lists in the same year.

"This thing's over," McIlroy conceded afterwards. "He's in a great position and I expect him to round this thing up tomorrow. He deserves to be world No. 1 and win both money lists."

It was Quiros who enjoyed a second successive day of domination, however, even if a selection of wild shots forced him to extricate himself from a number of tight spots. The Spaniard dropped a shot after finding trouble off the tee at the first, and followed that up with similar adventures on the fourth and 10th.

But his famous power and surprisingly subtle touch around the greens proved an effective combination elsewhere, with an eagle at the 573-yard seventh one of six shots he picked up against par heading to the par-five 18th.

There he made a sloppy bogey after a nervous putt - having made an eagle just a day earlier - opening the door to his rivals as he eventually signed for a two-under par round of 70 that put him 14-under for the tournament.

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie will join Quiros in Sunday's final group, after a round of 66 that was matched by another Claret Jug winner, Louis Oosthuizen - who sits a further shot behind at 10-under.

Then comes Donald, whose flawless round gives him an outside chance of ending a remarkable season with a fifth tournament triumph.

"That was exactly what I needed [today]," Donald said. "There's a lot on the line. History puts a bit of pressure on you but so far so good. It's obviously a tough feat to accomplish [winning both money lists] and who knows if I'll ever get another chance."

Donald is a shot clear of Francesco Molinari and Shane Lowry, who both recorded four-under rounds of 68 as they gave themselves the opportunity to end their years on a real high at nine-under. Peter Hanson is also at the same number, after struggling to a round of 71 in the final group with Quiros.

Earlier in the day, Germany's Martin Kaymer thrust himself into contention with a blistering round of 64, elevating himself from level par to eight-under - with a repeat performance needed in the final round if he is to have a chance of victory.

The 2010 US PGA champion, who won earlier in the year in nearby Abu Dhabi, had two birdies on the front nine and a further four on the inward nine - with a majestic eagle three at the last seeing him come home in 30.

"I obviously need a similar round tomorrow, but if the wind comes up, and I'm only a few back...," Kaymer mused afterwards.

Sergio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel round out the top ten alongside Kaymer, after matching rounds of 68. Afterwards, Garcia had some advice for his tournament-leading compatriot.

"You know someone is going to attack you," Garcia said. "You need to be comfortable, have a good start ... and hopefully maintain that lead."

For McIlroy, also at eight-under alongside Paul Casey, he now has one more round before he takes a rest.

"I was trying to stay patient and hit some good shots, but I just couldn't do it," the Northern Irishman noted. "Everything I was doing was going left and I didn't know why. I'm not 100 per cent."

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