Dubai, Nov 14 (NationPress) Nicolai Hojgaard has once again showcased his prowess at Jumeirah Golf Estates, establishing a commanding three-shot lead at the midpoint of the 2025 DP World Tour Championship. This marks his third time competing in the season's concluding event on the Earth Course, where he previously finished fourth during his debut in 2021 and secured the championship title two years later.

Starting the day three strokes behind the leader Michael Kim, Hojgaard executed an impressive performance with an eagle and five birdies, achieving a remarkable score of 65—the best round recorded this week—bringing his total to 12 under par.

The competition is fierce, with notable contenders including his 2023 European Ryder Cup teammates Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and Rory McIlroy, alongside Daniel Hillier and fellow Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, all sitting at nine under.

“It’s wonderful to be back; this tournament and course are among my favorites,” Hojgaard expressed. “I demonstrated great patience again. Yesterday was a solid round, and I believe I performed even better today. Patience has been key.”

“There are numerous scoring opportunities available, but being overly aggressive can lead to careless bogeys, so I’m focusing on maneuvering my way through the course. Patience has been the highlight thus far.”

“This course feels right for me. When it comes to golf courses that suit my eye, I truly enjoy it off the tee. It requires precision; a blend of driving and using a four-iron, which complements my strength with mid-irons.”

“It’s an excellent match for my game, and I’ve played some exceptional golf again. I hope to maintain this momentum.”

Hojgaard kicked off with a birdie on his first hole and nearly made an eagle on the par-five second with a close approach.

As Kim struggled with a tee shot into a steep fairway bunker, Hojgaard made his eagle putt, joining him at the top with eight under. Rose then matched their score with a remarkable 65-foot birdie at the sixth, while Kim fell from contention with a bogey.

Fleetwood followed Hojgaard’s lead, sinking an eagle from 61 feet to move ahead at nine under.

Rose completed a string of birdies at the seventh, reaching nine under, while Hojgaard secured a birdie at the fifth, placing three European Ryder Cup stars at the top of the leaderboard.

The Dane became the first to surpass ten under with a birdie at the seventh, and another birdie allowed him to turn in just 30 shots, leading by two at 11 under.

Lowry, another Ryder Cup star, joined Fleetwood and Rose at nine under after his fifth birdie at the 11th.

Hillier made a chip-in birdie at the 12th, joining the competitive field, with Neergaard-Petersen and Laurie Canter also moving to nine under.

Neergaard-Petersen nearly aced the 13th and then eagled the next, going four under in three holes with a birdie at the 15th, putting him in second at ten under.

Hojgaard reclaimed his two-shot advantage with a fifth birdie at the 14th, extending his lead to three after Neergaard-Petersen's bogey on the final hole.

Rose and Neergaard-Petersen, who played together on day two, both carded 67s, along with Lowry, who reached nine under. Defending champion McIlroy finished with a four-under 68, while Hillier from New Zealand recorded a 69. Canter, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, Swede Alex Noren, and Fleetwood are just one shot back at eight under.