Eugenio Chacarra still likes his chances as he targets Race to Dubai title

Eugenio Chacarra said if he can clean up his card over the weekend he likes his chances to win both the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai crown following a one under par 71 on the second day at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The Race to Dubai leader made back-to-back birdies to finish a rollercoaster day in Dubai, adding a second round 71 to an opening 72 that sees him hold a share of 11th after 36 holes on one-under.

The Spaniard, who is the only three-time winner on the DP World Tour this season, has plenty of experience making the most of the weekend and said he was happy with his finish as he looks to make the most of his opportunity to become the third Spaniard in history to win the Race to Dubai.

"I like how I'm hitting it," Chacarra said. "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.

"It's obviously playing tough. 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 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 six back. Hopefully Rory can have that good of a back nine, and I still have a chance to win the tournament.

Chacarra made the perfect start to his round with back-to-back birdies before dropping a shot at the fourth, making the turn in one under following a birdie-bogey end to his front nine. A second consecutive bogey at the tenth brought him back to level par, and although he responded with a birdie at the 13th, further dropped shots at the 14th and 15th left him needing a strong finish, which he duly delivered with back-to-back birdies.

With nearest challenger Rory McIlroy four ahead and in a share of the lead, Chacarra is currently projected to finish second on the Race to Dubai, but said it was a challenge that he expected to face this week.

Yet he is also aware there is plenty more golf to play, and is ready to attempt the challenge.

"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. 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. 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 six 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, six shots on a weekend, it's not a lot."