DP World Tour Championship: Rory McIlroy suffers big Race to Dubai setback as Tyrrell Hatton takes lead into final day

Tyrrell Hatton takes a one-shot lead into the final day of the DP World Tour Championship, as Rory McIlroy suffered a big setback in his bid to win the Race to Dubai.

McIlroy held a share of the halfway lead at Jumeriah Golf Estates and briefly grabbed the solo advantage at the par-five seventh, only to lose ground with three consecutive bogeys around the turn.

A closing birdie salvaged a level-par 72 and kept him on five under, four strokes behind Hatton in a share of fourth, leaving McIlroy with work to do to claim a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.

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Hatton posted a four-under 68 to edge ahead of Victor Perez, who is currently projected to win one 10 PGA Tour cards up for grabs via the Race to Dubai rankings, while Sweden's Mikael Lindberg sits three strokes back in third.

McIlroy needs at least solo fourth or better to have any chance of leapfrogging Eugenio Chacarra in the standings, with both players locked on five under alongside Adam Scott and Francesco Laporta going into the final day of the season.

How Hatton edged ahead as McIlroy lost ground

McIlroy missed several birdie chances over his opening holes and fell two behind when Hatton - chasing a ninth DP World Tour title - produced a brilliant 10-foot eagle at the par-five second.

Hatton got up and down to save par at the fourth but lost his outright advantage when Perez posted back-to-back birdies from the sixth, moving the Frenchman to seven under.

McIlroy ended his par streak with a brilliant eagle at the par-five seventh, moving him one ahead when Perez finished his front nine with a bogey, only for The Masters champion to lose momentum around the turn.

He failed to get up and down to save par at the eighth and then bogeyed his next two holes, as Hatton fired back-to-back birdies around the turn to temporarily jump into a three-shot advantage.

Perez charged towards the lead with a three-birdie run from the 15th, which saw him move alongside Hatton when the Englishman cancelled out a 15-foot birdie at the 14th by failing to scramble par from the sand at the next.

McIlroy made the same birdie-bogey run to drop to four under and fall back behind Chacarra in the Race to Dubai standings, as the Spaniard birdied four of his last six holes to close a four-under 68.

Hatton's wonderful approach into the par-four 16th set up a close-range birdie, before he recovered from finding water off the final tee to scramble par and remain one ahead of Perez.

McIlroy threatened a second eagle of the day after a brilliant approach into the par-five last, although missed from seven feet and had to settle for a closing birdie.

Hatton targets win as Chacarra eyes Race to Dubai

Tyrrell Hatton, speaking after his third-round 68: "It was a good day. It was tricky - the greens were so fast on the back nine. Every putt I had coming in I think from the 13th was just unbelievably fast. Really happy with how I putted today.

"I know tomorrow is going to be a tough day. I've got enough experience down these last few holes to know that anything can happen. I'll just go out tomorrow and try my best. I know I can play well around here, and that's what I'll try to do."

Eugenio Chacarra, heading into the final day tied-fourth: "I just want to win the tournament - I'm not far away. I know if I win the tournament, I win the ranking, so that's what I wanted to do in Abu Dhabi and I want to do it here.

"I think all of my goals have been done this season, so I'm just playing free. Not a lot of people can enjoy this moment and have a chance to win The Race to Dubai. So I'm going to have a chance tomorrow, and I'm going to go try and enjoy it as much as possible."

Who will win the Race to Dubai? Watch the final day of the DP World Tour Championship live on Sunday from 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream golf and more sport with no contract.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: DP World Tour Championship: Rory McIlroy suffers big Race to Dubai setback as Tyrrell Hatton takes lead into final day