Hatton leads DP World Tour Championship in Dubai as McIlroy and Chacarra tie for fourth

Hatton takes the lead

Tyrrell Hatton held the lead after the third round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Saturday, 14 November, with a four-under 68 that took him to 9 under overall. Victor Perez of France was one stroke behind after a 67, and Sweden's Mikael Lindberg was further back in third. Hatton made an eagle on the second hole and four birdies, and he got up from a greenside bunker at the last after finding the water. The Englishman is a five-time Rolex Series winner who has not gone all the way at this event, finishing runner-up in 2016 and sharing second place in 2022. Looking ahead to the final round, Hatton said afterwards:

“I know tomorrow's gonna be a tough day”

McIlroy slips into the chasing pack

Rory McIlroy, the world No. 2 chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, had shared the 36-hole lead with Hatton. His third round began with six straight pars before he made an eagle on the par-five seventh, after an approach from 235 yards that finished 10 feet from the pin. Three successive bogeys followed, all of them after erratic drives off the tee. He made a birdie and a bogey across the 14th and 15th holes. On the par-five 18th he got to within six feet after a 195-yard approach, but his eagle putt missed and he settled for birdie. He signed for a level-par 72, four shots behind Hatton and tied for fourth on five under.

Why the round unravelled

Sky Sports analyst Paul McGinley linked the problems to McIlroy's driving. He said:

“It's a fix that happens throughout his career; he hits hooks, and when he hits hooks, he has a problem.”

McGinley pointed to missed tee shots starting at the eighth, including one up the left-hand side at the ninth. He expected McIlroy to reset overnight and play better in the final round on 15 November. He also said that finding more fairways would put the rest of his game in good shape.

Chacarra leads the Race to Dubai

Eugenio Chacarra, a 26-year-old Spaniard in his first full season on the tour, leads the Race to Dubai standings by nearly 534 points over McIlroy. He shot a 68 on Saturday with nine birdies and finished tied with McIlroy on five under. The winner collects 2,000 points, with 1,335 for second place and 752 for third. McIlroy had moved ahead of Chacarra in the projected standings during the round, but after Saturday's play he was back in second. On the chance to win the title, Chacarra said:

“This is an extra bonus to have a chance to win it”

Tyrrell Hatton68

Victor Perez67

Rory McIlroy72

Tyrrell Hatton

68 strokes

Victor Perez

67 strokes

Rory McIlroy

72 strokes

Data from the article text

The final round on 15 November

The final order of merit will be confirmed after the round on 15 November, and the winner claims the Harry Vardon Trophy. Hatton is one stroke ahead of Perez, while McIlroy and Chacarra are tied for fourth at five under, four shots off the lead. McIlroy is seeking to move past Chacarra in the points list and win an eighth Race to Dubai title, which would equal the record of Colin Montgomerie, who won the award when it was called the Order of Merit.