Rory McIlroy has described his sturdy end on the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as a “great confidence builder” as he appears to shut out a seventh Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy arrived on the Rolex Sequence occasion with a 441-point benefit over Marco Penge within the DP World Tour’s season-long standings, then prolonged his result in 767 factors after a superb end at Yas Hyperlinks.
The world No 2 carded an eagle and eight birdies in a surprising bogey-free 62 on the ultimate day, his lowest ever spherical on the DP World Tour, to cost into rivalry earlier than finally ending tied-third.
McIlroy completed a shot behind Aaron Rai – who gained a play-off – and Tommy Fleetwood, with the Northern Irishman happy to increase his benefit within the Order of Advantage heading into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
“Obviously ended up one short but a great day of golf and a great way to end the week,” McIlroy stated. “Additionally an effective way to form of go into subsequent week in Dubai, as nicely.
Rory McIlroy is trying to win the Race to Dubai for a fourth consecutive yr
“I just tried to keep my foot down and make as many birdies as possible knowing that I’m trying to win this tournament but also give myself the biggest cushion possible going into next week [DP World Tour Championship].”
McIlroy arrives on the DP World Tour Championship as defending champion after final yr’s two-shot victory over Rasmus Hojgaard, having beforehand gained the occasion in 2012 and 2015, with the 36-year-old having 9 earlier top-five finishes at Jumeriah Golf Estates in Dubai.
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Highlights from the ultimate spherical of the 2024 DP World Tour Championship, the place Rory McIlroy impressed to say victory
“I really like that golf course,” McIlroy stated. “It really suits me. Probably suits me a little bit better than this course [Yas Links] does, just in terms of what you need to do off the tee and into the greens.
“This was an important confidence builder this week coming off a pair weeks off and hopefully [I can] simply produce extra of the identical Thursday and onwards.”
There are 2,000 factors obtainable to the winner of the season finale, though McIlroy stays agency favorite to shut out one other Race to Dubai success and carry the Harry Vardon Trophy for a fourth straight yr.
Race to Dubai success would go away McIlroy inside one in all Colin Montgomerie’s report of eight Order of Advantage titles, with Penge and Tyrrell Hatton – 1,721 factors behind in third – the one gamers who may nonetheless overtake him within the standings.
A final-round 75 in Abu Dhabi noticed Hatton end tied-Forty first – 14 pictures behind the winner – and additional behind McIlroy, whereas Penge saved his Race to Dubai hopes alive after rallying to a share of ninth with a Sunday 63.
Marco Penge is a three-time winner on the DP World Tour in 2025
“I played great all week,” Penge stated. “The putter has been very cold up until today [Sunday]. Yesterday [Saturday] I was poor mentally and broke myself down a bit and wanted to come out and fight back, and that’s what I did.
“The primary three days, I used to be making an attempt to assault as onerous as I may. In the present day [Sunday] was again to the method and be aggressive inside 150 and take my medication outdoors of that. Mentally, me and my caddie had been nice right now, and good to enter subsequent week taking pictures that rating.”
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