Rory McIlroy has a commanding lead in the Battle of Dubai as the DP World Tour playoffs begin.
McIlroy, who will compete in this week's HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship and next week's DP World Tour Championship, leads second-placed Triston Lawrence with 1,572.39 points. This huge advantage puts McIlroy in a good position to win a third consecutive Harry Varden Trophy and a sixth trophy, which would tie McIlroy with Seve Ballesteros for the all-time ranking. Two more, second only to Colin Montgomerie’s eight trophies.
The winner in Abu Dhabi on Sunday will get 1,500 points and the winner in Dubai next Sunday will get 2,000 points, so McIlroy is certainly not a lock yet. In fact, Sam Bairstow, who has dropped all the way to No. 37 in the rankings according to the DP World Tour, still mathematically has a chance of winning the Dubai event, although it would require McIlroy finishing last – Abu Dhabi Beth is ranked 70th and Dubai is ranked 50th – in both playoffs, some contenders have won the title over the entire season.
Lawrence and third-ranked Rasmus Hoggard (1,920.28 points behind McIlroy) are the only players within 2,000 points of McIlroy, so if McIlroy wins in Abu Dhabi , he will lock in the Dubai race before the season finale. However, McIlroy has never won the event, last playing against Abu Dhabi in 2022 when the event was held in January.
Fourth-ranked Billy Horschel is one of six top-70 players not playing in Abu Dhabi.
