Tyrrell Hatton has seized the initiative in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, extending his lead to one shot over Victor Perez after a steady four-under-par 68 on Saturday. The Englishman, who finished the 2025 Ryder Cup in the US with a crucial contribution to Europe’s victory, now sits at nine under par at the Earth Course in Dubai. His consistent performance has placed him in pole position for his first DP World Tour Championship title, while Sweden’s Mikael Lindberg trails in third on six under.
Northern Irishman drops four shots behind Englishman at Earth Course
Rory McIlroy’s bid for a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title has stalled significantly as he fell four shots behind the leader. The Northern Irishman, who entered Saturday’s round tied for the lead with Hatton, struggled to maintain his momentum, carding a level-par 72 that dropped him to seven under par. Despite his recent high-profile success in the Ryder Cup, McIlroy now faces a steep climb to reclaim the lead, with the final round promising a tense battle for the prestigious season finale.
The leaderboard remains tightly packed behind the top two, with Australia’s Adam Scott and Spain’s Edoardo Chacarra tied for fourth on five under, alongside Italy’s Francesco Laporta. Other notable contenders include England’s Danny Bradbury and South Africa’s Jannik Schaper, both sitting at four under. As the tournament heads into its decisive final round, Hatton’s one-shot cushion over Perez sets the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the DP World Tour season.
Source: BBC Sport
