Hatton leads DP World Tour Championship by one as McIlroy falls four back

Tyrrell Hatton leads the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai by one shot after three rounds. He is 9 under par overall after a third-round 68. Victor Perez is one shot behind after a 67.

Rory McIlroy started Saturday's third round sharing the lead with Hatton. He shot an even-par 72, with an eagle on the par-five seventh hole and four bogeys. He is 5 under, four shots behind Hatton, in a four-way tie for fourth.

That group includes Eugenio Chacarra, who shot a 68. Chacarra leads the Race to Dubai season-long standings and is ahead of McIlroy on points. McIlroy is seeking an eighth Race to Dubai title. That would equal the record held by Colin Montgomerie.

The third round

According to BBC Sport, McIlroy took the outright lead with his eagle on the seventh. He then bogeyed the eighth, ninth and 10th holes. He birdied the 14th, bogeyed the 15th and birdied the par-five 18th after narrowly missing a six-foot eagle putt.

BBC Sport reported that Hatton saved par on the 18th after driving into the water and hitting his approach into a greenside bunker. It also reported that Chacarra, four shots off the lead after two rounds, made nine birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

According to BBC Sport, Mikael Lindberg of Sweden is third at 6 under. Adam Scott, who shot a 67, and Filippo Laporta complete the group at 5 under. Dan Bradbury shot a 66 to reach 4 under. Jon Rahm shot a third consecutive 71 and is at 3 under. Patrick Reed and Tommy Fleetwood are at 3 over.

The Race to Dubai

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi give different figures for the points gap. BBC Sport says Chacarra led McIlroy by more than 500 points at the start of the tournament. ESPN says the gap is nearly 534 points, without stating when that applies.

According to ESPN, the winner receives 2,000 points, second place 1,335 and third place 752. According to BBC Sport, a win would guarantee McIlroy the title. He could also take it with a top-four finish if Chacarra falls down the order. BBC Sport also reported that Rahm could clinch the title by winning on Sunday. The reports do not set out the full scenarios for every contender.

According to ESPN, McIlroy won this event in 2012, 2015 and 2024 and is ranked world No. 2. BBC Sport describes him as a six-time major champion and says Hatton is bidding for his first title in the event.

BBC Sport reported the final-round pairings: Hatton with Perez, Lindberg with Scott, and McIlroy with Bradbury.

What each side says

BBC Sport quoted Hatton as saying: "It would mean a lot to go on and win tomorrow." He added: "There is a lot that can change. The course is playing difficult this week and there's a lot of fantastic players just behind. It is going to be a tough day."

The reports do not include comments from McIlroy, Chacarra or Perez. The final round had not been played when the reports were published.

Analysis

The final round could settle two separate contests: the tournament and the season-long Race to Dubai. Hatton holds a narrow lead, but several players sit within four shots on a course he describes as difficult. For the points race, the reports outline several paths. A McIlroy win would secure the title, according to BBC Sport, while a top-four finish could be enough depending on Chacarra's result. Rahm is also described as a possible contender for the title. Because the reports give no exact current points gap and do not cover every scenario, the outcome depends on Sunday's results. Neither contest can be called in advance.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.