There Is Plenty at Stake at DP World Tour Finale, Different for Everyone in Golf
Hatton leads in Dubai
Tyrrell Hatton holds a one-shot-free lead at nine under after taking the 54-hole advantage. He shared the 36-hole lead with Rory McIlroy, who is now four shots behind.
Hatton’s Saturday included a drive into the creek at the 18th, a dropped ball and a bunker shot. He got up and down to save par. He said his iron play had been good over the past two weeks, while adjusting his wedges and working on putting.
Different goals on Sunday
McIlroy is chasing the season-long points race, while Adam Scott is looking for a tournament victory. The 46-year-old Masters champion is among the players at five under, four shots behind Hatton, and has not won since the 2020 Genesis Invitational.
Chacarra described having a chance to win the Race to Dubai as an extra bonus, saying he was playing freely and enjoying the moment. The final round was expected to take place mostly overnight for viewers in the United States.
Tour cards carry added value
A top-10 finish in the final Race to Dubai standings can secure a PGA Tour card for next season for players who do not already have one. The Tour is set to divide into a Championship Series and a Challenger Series in 2028, making a place on the Tour in 2027 a potential head start toward the more lucrative series.
Lindberg, 33, has never been a PGA Tour member and is in solo third at six under, three shots behind Hatton. He was projected 15th in the standings, but would still have earned a card if the tournament had ended Saturday because some players ahead of him, including McIlroy and Ryan Fox, already hold Tour cards. Lindberg said he knew he could win on the tour, but was unsure about doing so on this stage among many big names.
Key points
- Hatton leads the DP World Tour Championship at nine under, four shots ahead of McIlroy.
- Adam Scott is four back and seeking his first victory since the 2020 Genesis Invitational.
- A top-10 Race to Dubai finish can earn a PGA Tour card for next season.
- Lindberg is third at six under and projected 15th in the standings.