Rory McIlroy is set to make an exhilarating return to Dubai, aiming to secure his third DP World Tour Championship title and match the illustrious record of Seve Ballesteros, who holds six Harry Vardon Trophies. The eagerly awaited Rolex Series event, scheduled from November 14th to 17th at Jumeirah Golf Estates, is poised to deliver a thrilling finale to the golf season.
The current Race to Dubai champion kicked off his 2024 campaign with a successful defense at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Northern Irishman has maintained his position at the top of the rankings since January, following a runner-up finish at the Dubai Invitational and consistent strong performances in the first three Majors. The Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates has been particularly favorable for the World Number Three, who has won the event twice and led the season-long standings in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022, and 2023.
At 35, McIlroy has secured third place for the most Race to Dubai victories, trailing Ballesteros by one and Colin Montgomerie by three, as he seeks to enhance his illustrious career with another European Number One title. The four-time Major Champion currently tops the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, leading Adam Scott by 1,554.39 points. He will participate in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the inaugural event of the DP World Tour Play-offs, a new two-event series culminating in the DP World Tour Championship.
The top 70 available players after the ‘Back 9’ events will convene at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi, followed by the top 50 moving to Dubai, as the season concludes in dramatic fashion. “Competing at the DP World Tour Championship is always something I look forward to at the end of the season,” McIlroy stated. “Dubai has been a special place for me, and I've been fortunate to achieve a lot of success there. To have the chance to equal Seve’s record is incredibly meaningful, he was a pioneer for European golf, and his impact on the world game can’t be overstated. It’s going to be a couple of big weeks in the Middle East with the DP World Tour Play-offs and I’m focused on playing some good golf to put myself in contention for more titles.”
