McIlroy, Hatton share lead at DP World Tour Championship

Rory McIlroy strengthened his bid for a record-tying eighth Race to Dubai title after carding a second-round 70 to share the halfway lead with Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

McIlroy made an early charge up the leaderboard with three birdies in his first eight holes before adding another at the tenth.

However, the Northern Irishman found the closing stretch increasingly difficult as windy conditions made scoring a challenge on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Bogeys at the 12th, 16th and 17th threatened to undo his progress, but a birdie at the last brought him back alongside Hatton on five-under-par, who had set the clubhouse target earlier in the afternoon.

With Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra tied 11th for the tournament after the first two days, there was a significant momentum swing in favour of McIlroy, who is currently projected to top the Ranking and capture his fifth straight Race to Dubai crown.

"I've been coming to this golf course for 17 years, and this is the toughest I think it's ever played. So in my mind it's sort of like, well, you should be going out and shooting 66 or 65, and the course just isn't set up that way this week. And you just have to show a little bit more patience out there. And I started to get maybe a little bit frustrated with the course on the way in. But I think it's just the nature of it. It's a tough test," said McIlroy.

"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

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 13, 2026

McIlroy boasts an impressive record at the Earth Course, having won the DP World Tour Championship three times and finished runner-up to Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off last year.

A fourth victory at the venue would secure both the tournament title and the Harry Vardon Trophy, extending his remarkable run of Race to Dubai success.

Hatton will have his own ambitions heading into the weekend as he looks to claim his first DP World Tour Championship title after coming close on a number of occasions.

The Englishman, an eight-time DP World Tour winner and serial Rolex Series champion, made an excellent start with birdies at the first two holes before picking up another at the ninth to reach the turn in 33.

A bogey at the tenth briefly stalled momentum, but Hatton responded with a birdie-par-bogey-birdie finish to sign for a 69 and establish the clubhouse lead.

"Overall it was pretty solid," Hatton said.

"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

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 13, 2026