Rory McIlroy says he will focus only on his own game as he seeks to hold off Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton and complete a ‘Dubai double’ at the DP World Tour season finale.
McIlroy carded a four-under 68 in the third round to move to 13 under and share the lead with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with a tightly packed leaderboard setting up an exciting final day.
The world No.2 is aiming to win the DP World Tour Championship for a fourth time and defend his title, while edging closer to a seventh Race to Dubai crown — which would be his fourth in as many years.
Hatton began the week among the few who could still overtake McIlroy on the Order of Merit, needing a victory and McIlroy to finish outside the top eight. The Englishman was part of a six-way tie for third going into the final round.
“I’m in a better position than him,” McIlroy said after his third round. “I’m focused on myself. If I go out and play the golf that I know I’m capable of, especially around this golf course, I know that it will be okay.”
McIlroy reflected on a memorable 2025 that has included completing the career Grand Slam with a win at The Masters, claiming the Amgen Irish Open in a play-off and playing a key role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory. The 36-year-old said defending his title would be a “amazing way to end the season” and stressed how important the Race to Dubai is to him as he chases Colin Montgomerie’s record eight Order of Merit titles.
“Marco [Penge] wasn’t that far behind. Obviously Tyrrell [Hatton] wasn’t that far behind. I knew I needed to come out here, play well. I played well when I needed to last week, especially at the weekend. I put myself in position to try to get another win here,” McIlroy added. “I certainly could have coasted into these couple of weeks and enjoyed myself, but the Race to Dubai is important to me. It’s important to me to try to get a little bit closer to Monty and I’ve put myself in a great position to go and do that.”
Marco Penge appears out of Race to Dubai contention after entering the final day tied 36th; he needed a share of second or better to have any realistic chance. Hatton, though, remained in the hunt after consecutive 67s. “Today’s round has given me a chance,” Hatton said. “I’ll go out there and try and put another good round of golf together and see what happens.”
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley urged McIlroy to maintain a forward, aggressive approach. “He has to keep going forward. As we saw at The Masters, he is much better doing that than holding back. He is better on the front foot. He is primed. He is not right on the top of his game — we have seen glimpses of that around some moderate stuff — but the course is suited to him. I am expecting him to go forward more tomorrow.”
McGinley suggested a winning total could be around 17 under, perhaps more given the strength of the field, with seven Ryder Cup players inside the top 10. The final round of the DP World Tour Championship will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday from 6.30am, with streaming options also available.