DP World Tour Championship: Rory McIlroy slips back to tied-fourth in Dubai

Rory McIlroy’s hopes of claiming a record-equalling eighth DP World Tour order of merit title were dealt a significant blow at the season finale DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Saturday as he met mixed fortunes on his way to a level-par 72 to drop to tied-fourth.

Having shared the overnight lead with Tyrrell Hatton on five-under, McIlroy followed up an eagle at the par-five seventh, after a fantastic approach from 235 yards to 10 feet, with three successive bogeys, all of them down to erratic drives off the tee.