Rory McIlroy shares the 36-hole lead at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, positioning himself to secure a record-tying eighth Race to Dubai title.
Following a second-round 70 on Friday McIlroy sits at 5-under par alongside Tyrrell Hatton.
Chasing the Order of Merit Record
McIlroy aims to match Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie as the only player to claim the season-long title eight times. Should McIlroy emerge victorious on Sunday, Chacarra’s performance will have no impact on the outcome of the Order of Merit race.
“I want to win the tournament, and if I win the tournament, that’s all I can do,” McIlroy said regarding his quest. “If I go and I win the first trophy on Sunday, then the second trophy should take care of itself.”
Challenging Conditions at the Earth Course
The Earth Course has proven difficult this week, with McIlroy noting that the layout is playing at its toughest in his 17 years of visiting the venue. Swirling winds and thick rough have hampered scoring, leading to a challenging experience for the field. The tournament, which acts as the finale for the Rolex Series, requires a level of patience that McIlroy admitted he is working to maintain.
He recovered by reaching the green in two on the par-5 18th hole and rolling in a 6-foot birdie putt to finish the day at 5-under par. He said that the 12th hole was the first time he truly felt out of position, emphasizing how difficult the course becomes once a player misses a fairway or green.
"It's very easy to make bogeys out there. Just a little bit off, you know, if you miss a fairway, or even if you miss a green, the lies around the greens aren't very good. And then you're sort of having to think about are you going to try to putt it or chip it or bump and run it… https://t.co/uE8ZTEcCxa pic.twitter.com/gDis95oOEg
Eugenio Chacarra Remains in Contention
Eugenio Chacarra, who entered the week leading the Race to Dubai standings by nearly 534 points, remains in the hunt despite currently sitting at 1-under par. The Spaniard, who is playing his first full season on the tour, carded a 71 on Friday to remain in a share of 11th place.
While he acknowledges he is at a disadvantage against veterans who have played the course “a million more times,” he remains focused on the task ahead.
"A bit of a weird round in that sense, but a fairly good score. "I think Rory is -6 or -7 at the moment. So from my point of view, I hope he doesn't make too many birdies coming in. But he's got an amazing record around this golf course. It just sets up pretty well for him…… https://t.co/u51ByfC5D1 pic.twitter.com/XaNsBzeDFy
“I know I need to do a couple of things better to be able to have a chance on Sunday, and that’s what I’m going to focus on,” Chacarra said. “If I can clean up the card a little, I like my chance on the weekend.”
Tournament Dynamics
The field remains tight heading into the weekend, with several players within striking distance of the leaders. Joost Luiten, the veteran Dutchman who entered the tournament as the 56th-ranked player and the last man into the field, initially stole the headlines with a superb opening-round 67.
Despite dropping shots on the 14th and 15th holes during his second round, Luiten remains in a share of third place at 4-under par alongside Kristoffer Reitan.
Other notable contenders include Jon Rahm, who sits at 2-under par following a second-round 71. Rahm, who won the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship last week, needs a victory and a collapse from the leaders to steal the Race to Dubai crown. Reed’s frustration was evident during the round, as he was seen tossing his putter toward his bag following a bogey on the 14th hole.
How things stand heading into the final weekend of the season at the DP World Tour Championship 📊#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Oig3OPd6jm
Tournament Standings After 36 Holes
| Position | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Tyrrell Hatton | -5 |
| T1 | Rory McIlroy | -5 |
| T3 | Kristoffer Reitan | -4 |
| T3 | Joost Luiten | -4 |
| T5 | Victor Perez | -3 |
| T5 | Freddy Schott | -3 |
| T5 | Mikael Lindberg | -3 |
The winner of this week’s event will claim 2,000 points toward the season-long standings, while second place earns 1,335 points and third place receives 752. With the wind continuing to impact play, the final two rounds are expected to be a test of strategy and resilience. The third round of the season finale begins on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
Earlier coverage: McIlroy Shares DP World Tour Lead
