DUBAI: Rory McIlroy is on the verge of a historic sixth Race to Dubai title as he tees off at the prestigious DP World Tour Championship on the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates.
With a prize fund of $10 million, this tournament serves as the grand finale of the DP World Tour Play-Offs, and McIlroy currently holds a commanding 1,785.02-point lead.
The competition has now distilled into a two-man race, with only South African golfer Thriston Lawrence holding a mathematical chance of challenging McIlroy for the top spot in Dubai.
Race to Dubai
McIlroy, aiming to equal the legendary Seve Ballesteros with a sixth victory, has achieved a remarkable season on both the DP World and PGA Tours. Earlier in the year, he secured the first Rolex Series event at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, followed by top-five finishes in three additional Rolex Series tournaments, including the Genesis Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship, and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last week. Reflecting on Ballesteros' influence, McIlroy commented, "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."
McIlroy expressed excitement about his return to Dubai, where he has historically performed well: "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," he noted, adding, "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." A sixth title would see him move just two titles behind Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, the all-time record-holder with eight Race to Dubai titles.
Meanwhile, Lawrence, who also enjoyed a successful season, remains the only player with a chance to upset McIlroy's campaign. The 27-year-old South African had runner-up finishes at several major events this season, including the Dubai Invitational, the Jonsson Workwear Open, European Open, Betfred British Masters, and the BMW PGA Championship, where he ultimately lost in a play-off to Billy Horschel. "It would mean the world, being the best golfer on the European Tour over the year is an unbelievable achievement," Lawrence said, expressing his enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Lawrence, who finished fourth at The 152nd Open at Royal Troon – his best Major finish to date – has kept his Race to Dubai ambitions alive with a sixth-place finish at Yas Links last week. He is keenly aware of the challenges ahead, remarking, "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." To secure the top spot, Lawrence must claim victory at the DP World Tour Championship while relying on McIlroy to place 11th or lower.
Playing alongside McIlroy last week, Lawrence was able to gain insight into the Irishman’s strategy and consistency. "I got to play with Thriston the final day at Wentworth and got to play that one hole in the play-off," McIlroy said, admiring Lawrence's skill. "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."
Lawrence, who has four DP World Tour titles and four Sunshine Tour victories to his name, was equally complimentary, calling McIlroy an “idol” and reflecting on what a potential victory would mean to him. "It's nice to have a chance, obviously... 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," he said. “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.”
DP World Finale
In addition to the title race, the DP World Tour Championship also carries high stakes for PGA TOUR hopefuls. The tournament is the second and final event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs, bringing together the top 50 players from the Race to Dubai standings. Apart from vying for the season finale title, players will compete for coveted PGA TOUR membership cards, with the top ten non-exempt players on the final Race to Dubai Rankings receiving dual memberships for the 2025 season.
The DP World Tour Play-Offs mark the end of an intense season with players from around the globe gathering in Dubai to contend for titles, records, and the promise of an expanded career on the PGA TOUR. For Lawrence, an upset in Dubai would be the realisation of a lifelong dream, while McIlroy’s quest to draw level with Ballesteros stands as a powerful testament to his dominance on the European Tour.