Eugenio Chacarra, playing only his second full season on the European Tour, took control of the Race to Dubai as Rory McIlroy slipped back and Tyrrell Hatton edged ahead at the season-ending Tour Championship in the third round in Dubai on Saturday.
Chacarra started the day on one-under par, with his closest pursuer in the season-long standings, McIlroy, in the joint-lead with Hatton.
The Spaniard's dream of a surprise Race to Dubai title looked to be drifting away when he three-putted the fourth hole for a bogey and followed that with a double-bogey on the next hole after dumping his wedge shot from the fairway into the greenside bunker.
However, Chacarra made four birdies in his last six holes for a four-under par 68, which tied him with McIlroy (72) in joint-fourth at five-under overall, four shots behind Hatton.
England's Hatton opened a narrow one-shot lead over Victor Perez following a superb round of four-under 68.
The Frenchman narrowly missed a birdie putt on the par-five 18th hole, while Hatton made a battling par on the same hole after hitting his drive into the water.
Sweden's Mikael Lindberg was in solo third at six-under after a second straight round of 69.
Chacarra has the chance to become only the third Spanish player after Seve Ballesteros and Jon Rahm to win the European Tour order of merit.
"It's been a grind. I've been fighting. I played all year on the DP World Tour, I played a lot of events, and I want to really win the Race to Dubai," said Chacarra.
"I want to show the world I'm capable of playing under pressure, and I think so far, I've been doing that.
"I just want to win the tournament. I'm not far away. I have a shot tomorrow. I know if I win the tournament, I win the ranking."
It was a frustrating day for McIlroy, who had taken the solo lead with an eagle on the seventh hole.
He paid a severe penalty for wayward drives on the next three holes –- making bogeys on each of them.
He had a chance to make an eagle on the 18th to edge ahead of Chacarra, but after a brilliant second shot from 195 yards, the eagle putt from seven feet just slipped past the hole.
Hatton made early gains with an eagle on the par-five second hole, and peppered the flags with his short irons and wedges.
"I know tomorrow is going to be a tough day," he said. "I've got enough experience down these last few holes to know that anything can happen."
Perez's 67 was the second-best round of the day. It was built around three straight birdies coming in from the 15th hole to the 17th.
"Really happy with today," said the 34-year-old, who like Hatton decided to quit LIV Golf and pursue a full schedule on the European Tour next year.
"The conditions were a little less windy, and I thought the pins were a little bit easier than yesterday. I felt like it was a little bit more manageable, but still not easy."
The winner of the tournament will earn a cheque of $3 million, while the player topping the Race to Dubai receives $2 million from the bonus pool for the top-10 players.
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