Northern Irishman and Chacarra are locked in a battle for Race to Dubai title

Rory McIlroy and Eugenio Chacarra are locked in a showdown for the Harry Vardon Trophy in Dubai, where Tyrrell Hatton takes a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the DP World Tour Championship.

Spain’s Chacarra entered the final event on the European tour calendar leading Northern Ireland’s McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings.

They are tied at five-under par, four shots behind England’s Hatton, as McIlroy attempts to win the trophy for a record-tying eighth time.

Every putt I had coming in, I think from 13, the par-3, was just unbelievably fast, and [I’m] really happy with how I putted today

—  Tyrrell Hatton

Hatton moved to nine-under with a four-under 68 yesterday that included an eagle at the par-5 second hole, four birdies and two bogeys on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

“Every putt I had coming in, I think from 13, the par-3, was just unbelievably fast, and [I’m] really happy with how I putted today,” he said.

“I think my iron play’s been pretty good these last two weeks. Last week I was really happy with my wedges; this week it’s a little bit harder to get the wedges right.”

France’s Victor Perez (67 on Saturday) is in solo second place at eight-under and Sweden’s Mikael Lindberg (69) is third at six-under.

Rory chasing history

McIlroy (72) and Chacarra (68) are tied for fourth place with Australia’s Adam Scott (67) and Italy’s Francesco Laporta (68) in the second tournament in the DP World Tour’s two-week playoffs.

McIlroy was third last week at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, four shots behind winner Jon Rahm of Spain.

Chacarra’s adventurous third round featured nine birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey 6 at the par-4 fifth hole. He closed strong with birdies at three of his last four holes. Chacarra entered the tournament with a 534-point lead over McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings.

Today’s winner will earn 2,000 points, followed by 1,335 points for second place and 752 for third.

I think all my goals have been done this season, so I’m just playing free. This is an extra bonus to have a chance to win it

—  Eugenio Chacarra

He said he is prepared for the challenge ahead of him today. “I’m ready. I love the game of golf. I worked so hard for these moments, and I’m going to go out there and enjoy it.

“I think all my goals have been done this season, so I’m just playing free. This is an extra bonus to have a chance to win it. 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 try to enjoy it as much as possible.”

McIlroy eagled the par-5 seventh hole before a string of three consecutive bogeys. He finished with some positive momentum with a birdie at No 18.

Schaper in contention

Jayden Schaper is the top-placed South African in the field, lying tied for eighth on four-under par.

He carded six birdies in yesterday’s third round, but four drops muted his charge at the leaders. But he’s not out of range of a shot at claiming what would be his third victory on the DP World Tour, after taking two in successive weekends at the end of last year.

Another South African, Casey Jarvis, had a nightmare round of six over par of eight bogeys and two birdies to be lying 49th, while Thriston Lawrence is right at the back on 15-over par.