Rory McIlroy is laser-focused on clinching his sixth Race to Dubai title at the DP World Tour Championship, with his sights set on matching the legendary Seve Ballesteros.
Heading into the season finale, McIlroy holds a commanding 1,785.02-point lead in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, making it essentially a two-man showdown.
Only South African contender Thriston Lawrence stands a chance of catching McIlroy, the five-time Harry Vardon Trophy winner.
For McIlroy, topping the Race to Dubai this year would mark his third consecutive season-long victory, a feat that would place him in elite company.
To win, Lawrence must pull off his first Rolex Series victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates—a tall order, but one that could make him the first South African to claim European Number One since Ernie Els in 2004.
A sixth Harry Vardon Trophy would not only bring McIlroy even with Ballesteros but also place him just two titles behind Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, who leads with eight.
The 35-year-old McIlroy kickstarted his season with a win at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the year’s first Rolex Series event. Since then, he’s taken two PGA TOUR victories and placed in the top five at three additional Rolex Series events—the Genesis Scottish Open, the BMW PGA Championship, and last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Rory McIlroy: I think it’s always nice for me, anyway, to start and end the year here in Dubai.
It’s typically what I’ve done most of my career. I’ve had a lot of success in the region.
You know, winning at the Emirates again this year, and winning this tournament a couple of times, and hopefully The Race to Dubai for a sixth time on Sunday if I can just keep playing the way I played last week in Abu Dhabi.
I guess I am a little too young to remember a lot of Seve’s career and things that he did. Seve is almost like a, not a mythical character to me but was just a little bit before my time. But he was my dad’s favourite player.
The immense impact he had on European golf from Ryder Cup and from what he did for the European Tour, he means a lot to the overall game of golf but specifically in this part of the world and on this Tour. So to draw level with him and to have a career that can sort of somewhat stack up against his is very cool.
I got to play with Thriston the final day at Wentworth and got to play that one hole in the playoff.
Played with him the first two days last week. For example, you could see why he did well in The Open at Troon, just his ball flight, the way he manages his game. He’s quite a creative player. He plays a lot of different shots.
He’s had a wonderful year. We had a good chat last week about what his plans are for next year, and obviously PGA TOUR card and sort of his plans to try to make that work over there, as well.
On the other side, Lawrence’s season has been nothing short of stellar. He has notched runner-up finishes in high-profile tournaments like the Dubai Invitational—alongside McIlroy—Jonsson Workwear Open, European Open, Betfred British Masters, and the BMW PGA Championship, where he and McIlroy narrowly missed out in a playoff to Race to Dubai Number Four, Billy Horschel.
Lawrence, a four-time DP World Tour winner and Sunshine Tour victor, also secured his best-ever Major finish with a fourth place at The 152nd Open at Royal Troon. He kept his Race to Dubai hopes alive last week, tying for sixth at Yas Links.
For Lawrence to pull off an upset this week, he’ll need to secure a victory at the DP World Tour Championship while hoping McIlroy finishes no higher than a tie for 11th.
Thriston Lawrence: It would mean the world, being the best golfer on the European Tour over the year is an unbelievable achievement.
Obviously to play on the DP World Tour has been a dream for me. Sitting here right now, I’ve achieved a lot of things that I’ve wanted to. But to get this trophy behind me would be just unbelievable.
Ranking-wise, the best season I’ve had in my life. I’ve won twice in my rookie year, twice last year. This year, I won on the Sunshine Tour which is nice. I always feel like with the strength of golfers in today’s time, winning on any tour is quite an achievement.
It’s nice to have a chance, obviously. It’s going to take a lot. I think I need to win and Rory probably needs to finish outside the top 10. I haven’t done the maths yet.
But just incredible to have an opportunity. So I’m very grateful just to be inside the Top-50 to be able to compete this week.
It’s been an unbelievable year, and yeah, Rory has been an idol for me since growing up as a youngster and being able to clinch it this week would be the cherry on the cake for myself.
The DP World Tour Championship marks the final event of the inaugural DP World Tour Play-Offs, with the top 50 players vying not only for the title but also for coveted PGA TOUR cards.
The top ten non-exempt players in the final Race to Dubai Rankings will earn dual membership, setting the stage for some intense competition.
The Race to Dubai title is Rory McIlroy’s to lose, but Thriston Lawrence has proven he’s up for a fight.
With history in his sights, McIlroy will need to maintain his momentum to secure another milestone and edge closer to Montgomerie’s record.
