Rory McIlroy was left frustrated after failing to capitalise on a fast start to the third round of the DP Word Tour Championship in Dubai. The world No 2 briefly moved to within four strokes of the lead after birdieing four of his first 10 holes at Jumeirah Golf Estates, only to miss a series of chances after the turn and card a four-under 68.Last years Race to Dubai champion followed three gains on the front nine by picking up a shot at the 10th, but failed to make further inroads along the back nine. McIlroys only other birdie came at the par-five 15th, before he bogeyed the last after firing his approach in to the creek running the length of the hole. McIlroy mixed five birdies with a sole blemish I think I turned a 62 in to a 68 somehow, it was just one of those days, McIlroy told Sky Sports. I hit a lot of good shots but didnt hole many putts.(I hit) a great drive, second shot had 207 (yards) to the pin into the wind. Maybe just was a little too aggressive with it and pulled it slightly and just got punished for a bad shot. Live European Tour Golf November 20, 2016, 7:30am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass McIlroy needs to retain his Dubai title this week to have any chance of finishing the year as Race to Dubai champion for a fourth time in five seasons.The Northern Irishman has never finished worse than 11th in seven appearances at the event, but after rounds of 75, 68 and 68 will head in to Sunday outside of the top 20. McIlroy began the week fourth in the Race to Dubai standings It could have been a lot better than it was and I could have got back in to it, but it wasnt meant to be, McIlroy added.I want to go out and play well tomorrow, try and post a good score and feel good about myself going into the next couple of months before I tee it up again.Watch the DP World Tour Championship live on Sunday from 7.30am on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf Also See: Second round highlights Dubai latest leaderboard European Tour latest news Golf live on Sky Sports LAS VEGAS -- When star freshman Lonzo Ball arrived at UCLA, Aaron Holiday lost his starting point guard job.Holiday showed Saturday he can provide the surging Bruins with a needed boost off the bench.Holiday and Bryce Alford each scored 20 points and No. 2 UCLA overcame a rough shooting game from Ball to beat Ohio State 86-73 and remain unbeaten.Isaac Hamilton scored 17 points and T.J. Leaf added 13, including a steal and layup that sparked the decisive run for the Bruins (12-0). They continued their best start since being 14-0 in 2006-07.I just try to get my mind right on the bench until my name is called Holiday, a sophomore, said. Honestly, I can see different things the defense arent doing so I can go out there and help that way.After a sloppy, 12-turnover first half, UCLA led 44-40 when Leaf stole Micah Potters pass under Ohio States basket and scored over Potter. It started a 7-0 run that concluded with Leafs 3-pointer with 16:53 left.Alfords 3-pointer with 1:49 left put the Bruins up 81-71 and stopped Ohio State (8-3) from mounting a late comeback in the first game of the CBS Sports Classic.Weve usually got five guys out there who can pass, shoot and dribble it, UCLA coach Steve Alford said. Thats uncommon. And with the character of these guys, its the making of a special team.Marc Loving scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half, JaeSean Tate added 15 and Keith Bates-Diop scored 13 for the Buckeyes, who lost for the third time in five games.Ohio State shot 48.4 percent from the field, but committed 15 turnovers.When youre playing a team like UCLA, the one thing you cant do is give the basketball back, Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said. Percentages say, theyre eventually going to score.It was UCLAs first game in Las Vegas since bowing out of last seasons Pac-12 Tournament with a blowout loss to rival Southern California in the first round. It closed a 15-17 season and led Alford to issue an apology.Holiday insisted he didnt think about the last time he was in town, but UCLA is a far superiorr team.ddddddddddddThe addition of a couple of star freshmen had transformed the Bruins in their return. While Ball (eight points, 3-of-8 shooting) was quiet, Leaf provided the athleticism and versatility missing from last season and Holiday picked up the scoring slack in the backcourt.Our bench has probably done more in 12 games than 32 games last year, Steve Alford said. Thats huge.BIG PICTUREUCLA: Holiday showed he belongs in UCLAs impressive and deep backcourt. He had four rebounds and made 8 of 10 free throws. UCLA weathered a lackluster first half by upping the tempo in the second half behind Holiday.Ohio State: The Buckeyes, who had a shocking home loss to Florida Atlantic earlier this month, played a solid first half. They did a good defensive job on Ball, too, but couldnt stay with the speedy Bruins after halftime.Our huddles werent as energetic and as vocal as they were in the first half, Loving said. And it carried over onto the court.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Bruins should hold onto their highest ranking since 2007. Ohio State hasnt been in the Top 25 since 2014-15.BALLS IMPACTWhile Ball shot poorly, he had nine rebounds and nine assists while flirting with his first triple-double for the second straight game. His dunk of an alley-oop pass with just under 2 minutes left made it 83-71.WELSH OUTUCLA C Thomas Welsh (bruised knee) warmed up, but didnt play. The Bruins still held a 41-31 rebounding advantage. Alford said Welsh could return next week.UP NEXTUCLA hosts Western Michigan on Wednesday in its final non-conference game. The Pac-12 opener is a week later at No. 22 Oregon. The Bruins will return to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament in March.Ohio State has home games Tuesday (Youngstown State) and Thursday (UNC Asheville) before opening Big Ten play Jan. 1 at Illinois.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '