Rory McIlroy hit five birdies during his Saturday performance
Season Finale Saturday Leaderboard
-13 R McIlroy (Northern Ireland), R Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark); -12 A Ayora (Spain), L Canter (England), M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (England), T Hatton (England), R Hojgaard (Den)
Notable scores: -11 L Aberg (Swe), N Hojgaard (Denmark), J Rose (England); -10 S Lowry (Ire), R MacIntyre (Scotland); -8 J Parry (England); -4 M Penge (England)
Rory McIlroy made three under-par scores in the final five holes to claim a share of the lead at the DP World Tour Championship and close in on a seventh year-end Race to Dubai crown.
McIlroy recorded a four-under-par 68 in the United Arab Emirates, in a performance including five birdies with one bogey to climb to 13 under, along with Denmark's Neergaard-Petersen.
England's Laurie Canter (68), Fitzpatrick (66), Fleetwood (68) and Tyrrell Hatton (67) sit at 12 under, together with Spain's Angel Ayora (67) and Danish competitor Rasmus Hojgaard (65).
"All in all, a bit of a battling day," said McIlroy. "The conditions were tricky enough yet pleased to shoot the score that I did."
McIlroy holds a substantial lead at the top of the annual standings as he goes for his fourth straight tour championship crown.
Tyrrell Hatton and fellow Englishman Marco Penge are the sole players who can stop McIlroy from winning the annual championship.
The English golfer needs to win this event while requiring McIlroy finish worse than tied for eighth to win it.
"My position is stronger compared to him [Hatton]," stated the tournament leader. "My focus is on my game. If I go out and play the golf that I know I can achieve, particularly on this golf course, I know that I'll be OK.
"It would be an amazing way to end the season."
Penge shot a better 68 on Saturday following rounds of 74 and 70, but looks unlikely to challenge on four under.
