US Open champion Rory McIlroy has admitted that he has very little chance of snatching the Race to Dubai title from world number one Luke Donald.

McIlroy, who recently moved up behind Donald to second in the world rankings, needed to win this weekend's Dubai World Championship and have Donald finish outside the top ten.

After starting the tournament menacingly, the Northern Irishman has failed to maintain the form and is now six shots off the runaway lead of Alvaro Quiros.

Donald, after an impressive bogey-free round of 66, is two shots ahead of McIlroy in fourth overall and has all but sewn up the European Tour's money list.

Barring a complete disaster on Sunday, Donald will become the first man to win the money lists on both the PGA and European Tours.

"Luke has played well all year and I expect him to have another solid round," McIlroy said after the third round.

"I don't think he's been given enough credit for the golf he's played, but from within the golfing family I am sure he will receive a lot of plaudits."

Big-hitting Quiros leads the final tournament of the year by two shots from Paul Lawrie heading into the final round.