Paul McGinley thinks there’s a new favourite to win the DP World Tour Championship who’s playing better than Rory McIlroy

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Paul McGinley believes there’s a new favourite to challenge Rory McIlroy at this week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

McIlroy currently holds a share of the lead after carding a five-under 67 at Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course in Dubai.

McIlroy’s swing changes appear to be paying off, and the four-time major winner looks set to end his season with a sixth Race to Dubai crown added to his trophy cabinet.

LIV Golf star Tyrrell Hatton, however, could prove stiff competition for the Northern Irishman.

Hatton has his issues with the Earth Course but continued his red-hot form during Thursday’s play. The 33-year-old finished the day tied for the lead with McIlroy, and McGinley believes Hatton is the man to beat in the UAE.

What Paul McGinley said about Tyrrell Hatton at DP World Tour Championship

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Speaking on Sky Sports after the first round, the former European Ryder Cup captain spoke about Hatton’s rich vein of form.

“I think he is the biggest threat,” McGinley said. “I put him as my favourite. He played better than Rory did today. He is in a great vein of form.

“He has played well in the desert in the past. His golf game is super fantastic at this moment in time. He is hitting the ball very well—a lot of greens in regulation. I think 16 today. His putting is fantastic and he is the guy to beat in my opinion, I really do rate him that highly.”

Tyrrell Hatton vs Rory McIlroy at DP World Tour Championship

Hatton’s statistics from the first round make for excellent reading. The Englishman was the sixth most accurate driver in the field, hitting fairways 71.4% of the time. Furthermore, Hatton registered an average distance of 322 yards, which is the second-best behind McIlroy. The Northern Irishman’s average driving distance was 322 yards.

The LIV man also hit the second most greens in regulation and had the best putts per green in regulation on day one.

Hatton’s scrambling rate was slightly low, but if the Englishman continues to hit greens with such regularity, his short game won’t be required to bail him out of trouble.

Despite winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Hatton tends to go under the radar whenever fellow big names are in town. A win in Dubai to end his DP World Tour season would undoubtedly remind the golfing world that he’s rightfully among the game’s elite.