Matt Wallace tops leaderboard after nine straight birdies

Matt Wallace set a European Tour record with nine consecutive birdies, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard at the DP World Tour Championship.

The 33-year-old posted a remarkable third-round score of 60, including a total of 12 birdies, to finish 16 under in Dubai.

He leads by a shot over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Norway’s Viktor Hovland, who are tied for second place.

“It’s pretty special. I love making birdies – I always want to make one more,” Wallace told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I putted nicely, which is a change from the form I’ve been in. We’ve been working towards this, so it’s really nice it came good on the back nine.”

Wallace had been on course for a round of 59 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates but hit the bunker on the par-five 18th to complete the hole in four.

However, nine birdies in a row equaled Australian James Nitties’ tour record from the 2019 Vic Open, while he also tied the tour record of 12 birdies for a round made by Raphael Jacquelin of France at the Turkish Open in 2013.

“I’ll always have that, which is nice,” added Wallace.

“I always want to push forward, and guess that showed out there. I needed something like that to get me hunt.”

Wallace had started the day at four-under but surged up the leaderboard to move above Fleetwood, who carded a six-under round of 66.

Overnight leader Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark is tied for third at 14 under with compatriot Jeff Winther, while Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson is a further shot back.