Tyrrell Hatton opened a four-shot lead over Rory McIlroy at the Race to Dubai event after the third round at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Hatton shot a 4-under 68 on the Earth Course to reach 9-under par, while McIlroy struggled to a level-par 72, leaving him four strokes behind the Englishman.
McIlroy's challenge to equal Colin Montgomerie’s record for the most Race to Dubai titles took a significant blow as the Northern Irishman failed to keep pace. Before his round, McIlroy expressed frustration with the course setup, describing the rough as punishing and the putting surfaces as imperfect. His round was marred by three consecutive bogeys around the turn, which saw him lose ground on the leaderboard. Although he managed a par on the 18th hole thanks to an up-and-down from a bunker by Hatton, a closing birdie was not enough to close the gap.
The Earth Course has proven tough for the entire field, but McIlroy appeared particularly affected. He commented that the fairways were drying out, causing difficult lies even when players found the short grass, and the greens were bumpy and hard to read. Speaking to Dubai Eye 103.8, McIlroy admitted he started to get frustrated with the course on the back nine. Despite having won this event three times previously, he said this was the toughest setup he had encountered in 17 years of competing at the venue.
Meanwhile, Hatton maintained a steady approach despite some struggles with his driver. He acknowledged that his irons and putting were the strengths of his round. Earlier in the week, Hatton had signed for a 69, recovering well after a bogey at the tenth hole with a closing birdie-par-bogey-birdie sequence. “There was a lot of good stuff today,” Hatton said after his round. The 9-under total puts him narrowly ahead of Victor Perez, who is at 8-under par and one shot behind the leader.
Eugenio Chacarra, the Spaniard, sits on 5-under par after also shooting a 4-under 68. Chacarra is close to McIlroy on the leaderboard and is in a strong position to claim his maiden Race to Dubai title if McIlroy falters further. McIlroy needs at least a solo fourth-place finish to keep his hopes alive of overtaking Chacarra in the season standings. However, he sits tied for fourth with three other players, including Adam Scott and Francesco Laporta, all on 5-under par.
Perez, reflecting on his position just one shot behind Hatton, said a win would be “really special,” aiming for his ninth DP World Tour victory. The battle on Sunday will determine not only the tournament winner but also the outcome of McIlroy’s quest to tie Montgomerie’s record.
As the final round approaches, Hatton holds a narrow lead under challenging conditions, with several contenders within striking distance. McIlroy’s hopes depend on recovering his form and navigating the toughest Earth Course setup seen in nearly two decades.
According to Yahoo Sports.
