Chacarra, Reed and McIlroy Grouped Together for Abu Dhabi Playoff Opener

The DP World Tour has confirmed a blockbuster final group for the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, with Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra joined by Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy. For the first time, the playoff opener at Yas Links will send groups out in reverse rankings order, meaning the top three in the standings will tee off together at 11:50 a.m. on Thursday, in a grouping that doubles as a shootout for the season-long title. Chacarra, who recently overtook Reed with a third win of the season at the DP World India Championship, heads a field chasing the 50 places in next week's DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Reed, the long-time rankings leader after his Rolex Series victory in Dubai and his win in Qatar, sits second, while Masters champion McIlroy is third as he chases a record-equalling eighth Harry Vardon Trophy and a fifth in a row. Casey Jarvis, the fourth player who could finish the week on top, goes out 11 minutes earlier alongside defending champion Aaron Rai and Daniel Hillier. The $9 million event, the first of the tour's two playoffs, runs from November 5 to 8 at Yas Links, where the top 70 available players on the rankings are competing. Sam Bairstow will hit the opening tee shot at 7:19 a.m., but all eyes will be on the final group, where the Race to Dubai could take a decisive turn before the season finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates.