Top Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra now admits Rory McIlroy is going to be tough to beat but 36 holes is a lot of golf heading to the closing two days of the 2026 Race to Dubai season.
Chacarra posted scores of 72 and 71, having birdied his closing two holes on day two in continuing bright but difficult windy conditions on the host Jumeriah Estates course in the UAE.
He birdied the first and second holes on day two but proceeded to add just a further three birdies, including at the closing two hole but also five bogeys.
RORS WILL BE TOUGH TO BE BEAT BUT 36 HOLES IS A LOT OF GOLF ….
Says Engenio Chacarra heading into the closing two rounds of the @dpwtc #RolexSeries
“I still have two days. I’m happy with that finish I needed. Only five back. Hopefully Rory can have that good of a back nine, and I still have a chance to win the tournament”.
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✅ @TOURMISS
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) November 13, 2026
“Yeah, it’s obviously playing tough,” said Chacarra. “That’s been kind of the thing the last two weeks, my good’s good, but I’m making too many mistakes and I’m not being able to get the momentum going.
“I made a bomb on the par-3 13, and I hit a good driver on 14, kind of like getting momentum, and I hit the worst second shot of the week from nowhere.
“It’s kind of been the week. I still have two days. I’m happy with that finish I needed. Only five back. Hopefully Rory can have that good of a back nine, and I still have a chance to win the tournament”.
Of course, Chacarra is contesting a first Race To Dubai final series and will learn much from the week. Whereas, McIlroy has it all in front of him having won seven Race To Dubai titles and now looking to join Scot Colin Montgomerie with a record-setting eighth.
Characca acknowledges this.
“Well, I mean, it’s just what it is. I knew it was going to happen. It’s one of the favourite courses of Rory and he’s had so much success in here,” said Characca. “He’s obviously one of the best players in the world.
“So we know it’s going to be tough. Like I said, there’s two rounds of golf, 36 holes is a lot.
“And, yeah, I like how I’m hitting it. Like you said, there’s been a lot of birdies in harder conditions. So if I can clean up the card a little, I like my chance on the weekend.
“Yeah, I can control what I can control. If Rory comes here and wins the tournament, he’s a deserved champion. There’s nothing I can really do.
“I’m going to try to win the tournament. As of right now, I’m five shots back. The wind is kind of pumping. It’s not easy out there.
“So, like I said, hopefully they don’t go really, really low. And, I mean, five shots on a weekend, it’s not a lot.”
NB: Eugeni0 speaking with McIlroy still a handfull of holes to play on day two.
