Rory McIlroy is well set to win the Order of Merit title

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy boosted his Race to Dubai challenge by moving into third place at the Hong Kong Open thanks to a five-under-par 65.

McIlroy goes into Sunday's final round on 11 under par, five shots behind leader Gregory Bourdy of France.

Current money list leader Lee Westwood, less than 47,000 euro ahead of McIlroy, is down in 33rd place.

Graeme McDowell's 66 leaves him two behind McIlroy on nine under and Darren Clarke had a 67 and is seven under par.

Ireland's Peter Lawrie is on 10 under after a third-round 66.

Last year's Hong Kong runner-up McIlroy knows he could realistically be leading the tournament after failing to convert more than 10 realistic chances over the first three rounds.

"I was in a similar position last year and shot a 65 to get into the play-off," he said.

"I will have to do something like that or even better. My mindset is to get off to a fast start and try and keep it going."

On Saturday, McIlroy bounced back from an double bogey, which erased his early gains, to pick up six shots in seven holes around the turn before letting slip a late bogey.

"It was great to get those two shots back straight away," he added.

"I knew even though I was back to level there was a lot of golf still to be played.

"I knew I was hitting it well and putting well and it was a matter of giving myself chances again.

"Maybe a couple of years ago, after making double, I would have been a bit flustered but that comes with experience.

"When people ask the difference between turning pro and now and the answer is experience. That could have been it for me and I could have shot 73 or 74."

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