This week, Rory McIlroy resumes his quest for a sixth Race to Dubai title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, marking the start of the DP World Tour playoffs and the penultimate stop of the season.
McIlroy, a four-time Major winner and the current Race to Dubai leader, heads into Yas Links with a substantial lead in the Rankings.
With a win, he could join legends Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie as one of the only players to capture the Harry Vardon Trophy at least six times.
The Northern Irishman’s most recent DP World Tour victory came in January at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, defending his title, while his last three wins have all been Rolex Series events, including a triumphant Genesis Scottish Open in 2023.
Rory McIlroy: “I’m focussed on this week. Because if I can play well this week, play really well this week, then next week won’t matter, for me, anyway.
I’ll still want to go out and play well and try to win the golf tournament, but I know that I can make life a lot easier for myself with a good week this week. Fully focussed on that.
“To win the last two years, and going for my third in a row, trying to go for six overall, it’s a pretty meaningful thing to do.
Trying to get to Monty’s number of eight, or maybe surpass, is definitely a goal in the future. But I think right now, just have focus on trying to get that sixth one and go from here.
“I’ve played really well in Abu Dhabi and obviously in Dubai. I’ve been able to get the job done in Dubai few more times than here. But I’ve had plenty of chances.
“I’d love to get a win in Abu Dhabi. I’ve been so close so many times. It would be nice to finally get over the line.”
Trailing him is South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who sits 1,572.39 points behind after a season marked by five second-place finishes.
Lawrence needs to stay within 2,000 points by week’s end to keep his hopes alive, aiming to be the first South African atop the Rankings since Ernie Els in 2004.
Thriston Lawrence: “The last two years, I was like 19th and 14th (on the Rankings) going into the last two events. I know Rory is a couple of points ahead but it’s not going to stop me trying to catch him. I know I’m good enough to win both events going into the final.
“It’s always good to see my name up there, and I’m very proud of myself how I kept calm this year, running up five times, not getting a victory. There’s two left and hopefully I can do something special in the last two.”
The Abu Dhabi field includes the Top 70 players in the Race to Dubai Rankings, with only the Top 50 advancing to the season-closing DP World Tour Championship.
Among the roster are McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammates and past event champions Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry. Fleetwood clinched victory in 2017, propelling him to a Race to Dubai win and his first Ryder Cup berth the following year.
Lowry’s 2019 win at this championship set the stage for his Major triumph later that year at The Open in Royal Portrush.
