Graeme McDowell will end his five week crusade to win the Race to Dubai a little short after a round of 69 on Saturday on the Greg Norman designed Earth Course was only enough for in 30th place – ten shots off the leader, Ian Poulter.
The Portrush man needs a top three finish to stand any chance of denying Martin Kaymer of Germany and currently on two under par for the tournament he needs a lot of things to fall his way on Sunday – not unlike the final round at the Andalucia Masters in Valderrama last month.
Such is the momentum he has gathered this year that McDowell will undoubtedly still believe there is a chance ahead of Sunday.
But for the moment it is Ian Poulter who takes a two shot lead into the final round of the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World after a third round 69 and the English man is 12 under at Jumeirah Golf Estates, but with Francesco Molinari, Thongchai Jaidee and Ross Fisher in his wake.
Germany's US PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer is in a tie for 11th after a one over par 73, but looks set to capture The Race to Dubai – barring any drama on Sunday.
Poulter is going for two wins in a row for the first time in his career and history suggests he will be tough to stop. Eight times he has taken a lead into the final day and only once has he not triumphed.
Despite two "silly" bogeys - his first of the week - he recorded a three under par round to move to 12 under, two in front of joint-overnight leader Fisher, Italian Molinari and Thailand's Jaidee.
Poulter looks unstoppable after his UBS Hong Kong Open success.
"My game is as good as it's been - as good as Tucson - and I am in the driving seat.
"The pins were tucked and it was a game of patience, but the two silly bogeys came on holes I feel I should have taken advantage of."
After moving three clear he three-putted from only 15 feet at the fifth and a poor drive cost him another shot at the 437 yard tenth. At that point he fell back alongside Kaymer, Fisher and Jaidee, but Poulter then birdied the 14th and 15th and parred in from there.
Fisher closed the gap to one again on the 486 yard 16th, but Fisher went for the final green in two and, finding the same hazard as Kaymer, ran up a six.
WGC-HSBC Champions winner Molinari continued his excellent recent form with a 68 that included a hat trick of birdies from the 15th.
"It was a very good day," he said. "Not much was happening on the front nine for me but I stayed patient and some putts started dropping on the back nine.
"Obviously the bogey at 14 was a bit disappointing, but I managed to make it a great finish with three birdies on the last four holes and a par safe at the 18th.
"It's been another solid round and I'm hitting the ball well. I'm putting well and I'm chipping well."
Rory McIlroy was the best of the Irish on Saturday signing for a round of 66 - on 7 under - in a share of 9th place.
Peter Lawrie carded a third round 68 to end the day on 5 under.
Padraig Harrington signed for a 69 for a 3 under par total.
Darren Clarke is one under par after a round of 73.
Gareth Maybin notched up a quadruple bogey on the par four 12th to end the day with a 77 and a five over total.
Damien McGrane uncharacteristically trails the field on 13 over par after a round of 76 – which follows his round on Friday of 78 – damaging his card in the Dubai World Championship.
