Q. Well under par through 13, 3-under for the last five. Give us your overall assessment of the day, yeah, I hit two great shots into the first?
RORY McILROY: Yeah, I got off to a good start. I hit two great shots into the first, two great shots into the second. I missed a 2 1/2, 3-footer on 2, three-putted that. I feel after that, I sort of let that affect me a little bit, especially on the greens for the next few holes.
But stayed really patient, gave myself plenty of opportunity. Didn't hole that much but I knew there was a few chances coming in. It was nice to take advantage of those, 14, 15, and 18.
So overall, a bit of a battling day. The conditions were tricky enough. But happy to shoot the score that I did.
Q. Tyrrell Hatton shot a score today that puts him in a position to get the win that he need to challenge you at the top of The Race to Dubai. I know you'll be focused on winning the championship but will that be in your mind at all?
RORY McILROY: No, you know, I'm in a better position than him. I'm focused on myself. If I go out and play the golf that I know I'm capable of, especially around this golf course, I know that it will be okay.
Q. You told us this is the greatest year of your golfing life: The win at the Masters, Grand Slam achievement, Ryder Cup, what would it mean to ice that cake with a seventh Race to Dubai championship and a fourth DP World Tour Championship?
RORY McILROY: It would be an amazing way to end the season. You know, I knew coming out here for these two weeks, Dubai last week and this week, I needed to play well. Marco wasn't that far behind. Obviously Tyrrell wasn't that far behind. I knew I needed to come out here, play well. I played well when I needed to last week, especially at the weekend. I put myself in position to try to get another win here.
So yeah, really pleased. I certainly could have coasted into these couple of weeks and enjoyed myself but The Race to Dubai is important to me, and it's important to me to try to get a little bit closer to Monty. As I said, I've put myself in a great position to go and do that tomorrow.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports