Lee Westwood is looking good to cross the Race to Dubai finish line first and pocket $2.75million after pacemaker Rory McIlroy slipped back into the pack.

A final, straight shootout between Race leader McIlroy and nearest challenger Westwood looked to be on the cards during a thrilling Dubai World Championship third round yesterday.

But the final pairing will now be Westwood (66) and Ross McGowan (66) after McIlroy’s charge round the Earth course blew up on the
‘Green Mile’.

That the Northern Irishman is back on ten-under, five shots off the pace is a real shock. After all, the Dubai Desert Classic champion had carded six birdies by the time he reached the short par-four 15th.

But, for once this week, the the final four holes, justified their tag of ‘the toughest mile in golf’ as the 20-year-old recorded three bogeys in his final three holes to leave his title chances in tatters.

He was forced to stand with one foot in the drink to play his third shot on 16, while he needed a drop on the demanding 18th after finding water with his third shot. However, the confident youngster believes he can still make the right splash in the final round today. He said: “For 15 holes there I was playing great and got myself into a position I wanted to be.

“That’s really what I have got to remember. If I get off to a good start early on then all the damage will be forgotten.”

Westwood had started the day two shots in front of the pack on nine-under. But it was playing partner McGowan who was on fire early on, with four straight birdies from six, making it five on the front nine.

But the world No.5 managed a second birdie of his own on the ninth hole to hang in with McGowan.

He followed that up with birdies at ten and 11, and another on the par-five 14th.

Westwood bagged his sixth birdie of the day on the final hole for a grandstand finish, while McGowan netted just the one birdie on his back nine. And a relaxed Westwood is looking forward to finishing off the job today. He said: “I’m playing really well, as well as I’ve played all year.

“I’ll try and keep it exactly the same. You’ll only slip up if you try and do anything else.”

The Englishman, who won the Order of Merit in 2000, revealed he had little idea of McIlroy’s disastrous finish to his round struggle. He said: “The only time I saw Rory was on 18 and he was in the distance. I was trying to play one of the most difficult holes out there strategically, so I didn’t see what was going on.”

Despite Westwood seemingly holding all the aces, McGowan has not ruled out a victory charge of his own after going 46 holes without a dropped shot.
He said: “I guess I’m out here to win, to play my own game and whatever anyone else does I’m not really worried about.”

Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy is hoping to close the gap today after a four-under 68 moved him to nine-under, level with Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

But the spotlight is sure to be on Westwood and McIlroy as we reach the end of the season on Earth, even if the pair are in different groups.