Rahm carded a four-under 67 on Saturday (Sunday AEST) as he aims for his second win of the LIV Golf season after going winless in 2025. The Spaniard also won this year in Hong Kong.
Hatton, his teammate on Legion XIII, had a 66. It will be the first time Rahm and Hatton are paired together in the final round in LIV Golf. They have played together in three PGA Tour events, but never in the final round.
"I don't see the dynamic changing a lot, but I can imagine we're going to be speaking a little bit less than we do normally just because of the situation we're going to be in," Rahm said.
"Down the stretch, no matter who we're playing with, usually the conversations are very limited."
Rahm also will be trying for a better finish at Chapultepec than in 2017, when he nearly chased down Dustin Johnson in a World Golf Championship until a pair of late three-putt bogeys.
Hatton also had a moment at Chapultepec. He was tied with Phil Mickelson on the final day of the WGC event in 2018 when he bogeyed the last hole to miss out on a playoff.
"I guess I've proved in the past that I can play well around this golf course," the Englishman said.Â
"It didn't work out for me on the 18th hole in that WGC event, which was disappointing, but hopefully the bubbles will be on my side tomorrow."
South African Branden Grace (65) and Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin (69) were another shot further back.
Marc Leishman was the leading Australian in 11th place after a third-round 67 left him at eight under, six shots behind Rahm.
Elvis Smylie was even for the tournament in a tie for 36th spot, with Travis Smyth tied for 41st at two over, and Cam Smith one shot further back sharing 44th place.
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