McIlroy needs second at DP World Tour Championship for eighth Race to Dubai title

Rory McIlroy heads into Sunday's final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates knowing a second-place finish or better will be enough to clinch an eighth Race to Dubai title and equal Colin Montgomerie's record.

The Northern Irishman started the DP World Tour Championship 533 points behind Eugenio Chacarra in the season-long standings. With 2,000 points on offer to the tournament winner, victory would guarantee McIlroy the order of merit regardless of the Spaniard's result.

But McIlroy faltered during Saturday's third round, slipping from a share of the lead to a tie for fourth on five under par, four shots behind England's Tyrrell Hatton. Hatton fired a four-under 68 to reach nine under and leads Victor Perez by one stroke going into the final day.

Chacarra, who has already won three times this season and secured a PGA Tour card, is also tied fourth with McIlroy. If McIlroy finishes second in Dubai, he would gain enough points to overtake Chacarra even if the Spaniard wins the tournament, because the gap between second and third in Race to Dubai points is 583 points. Anything lower than second would leave McIlroy short.

McIlroy is seeking a fourth DP World Tour Championship victory, which would guarantee the title. He has previously won the season finale three times, and an eighth Race to Dubai crown would match Colin Montgomerie's record.

Hatton began the week 12th in the Race to Dubai, more than 2,200 points behind Chacarra, so he cannot win the season-long title even if he takes the tournament victory.

Play gets under way on Sunday at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course, where firm, dry greens and blustery winds have made scoring difficult all week.