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<\/p>\nRory McIlroy insists he will only focus on his own performance as he looks to hold off Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton and claim a \u2018Dubai double\u2019 in the DP World Tour season finale. <\/p>\n
McIlroy takes a share of the lead into the final day of the DP World Tour Championship, with a four-under 68 lifting him to 13 under alongside Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and top of a congested leaderboard at Jumeirah Golf Estates.<\/p>\n
The world No 2 is looking to win the DP World Tour season finale for a fourth time and successfully defend his title, with McIlroy also a big step closer to a seventh Race to Dubai crown and a fourth in as many years.<\/p>\n
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Rory McIlroy reflects on his third round at the DP World Tour Championship and his hopes of closing out another Race to Dubai title <\/p>\n
Hatton started the week as one of two players who could overtake him on the Order of Merit, requiring a victory and for McIlroy to finish outside the top eight, with the Englishman part of a six-way tie for third heading into an exciting final day.<\/p>\n
“I’m in a better position than him [Hatton],” McIlroy said after his third round. “I’m focused on myself.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
![\"Rory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skysports-rory-golf_7082529.jpg\")
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Rory McIlroy misses close putt for birdie in his chase for the Race to Dubai title on DP World Tour!<\/p>\n
McIlroy has completed the career Grand Slam at The Masters, won the Amgen Irish Open in a play-off and helped Europe to Ryder Cup victory during a memorable 2025, with the 36-year-old now looking to move within one of Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight Order of Merit titles.<\/p>\n
“It [defending his title] would be an amazing way to end the season,” McIlroy added. “I knew coming out here for these two weeks, Dubai last week and this week, I needed to play well.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skysports-race-to-dubai-golf_7082656.png\")
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\n A closer look at what Marco Penge and Tyrrell Hatton require to overtake Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings <\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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 [Colin Montgomerie] and I’ve put myself in a great position to go and do that.”<\/p>\n
![\"Rory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skysports-rory-mcilroy-golf_7082661.png\")
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\n Rory McIlroy is a six-time winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy<\/p>\n
Marco Penge appears out of Race to Dubai contention after heading into the final day in tied-36th, having needed to finish a three-way share of second or better to have any chance of overtaking McIlroy, although Hatton remains in the title hunt after back-to-back 67s.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
![\"Tyrrell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skysports-tyrrell-hatton-dubai_7082632.jpg\")
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\n Tyrrell Hatton is chasing a ninth DP World Tour title <\/p>\n
McIlroy must play ‘front-footed’ golf<\/p>\n
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley on Rory McIlroy:<\/p>\n
“He [McIlroy] 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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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As Rory McIlroy closes in on a seventh Race to Dubai success, Europe’s Ryder Cup stars explain what the Grand Slam champion means to the sport<\/p>\n
“I backed Fleetwood at the start of the week and I am still looking okay with him, but what a leaderboard! With seven of the European Ryder Cup team in the top 10, the cream has really come to the top.<\/p>\n
“I think 17 under is the number [for victory], maybe even more. With the quality of players around you, all these Ryder Cup players, you would think one of those would ignite. It’s going to be fun to watch.”<\/p>\n