Rory McIlroy dismisses Race to Dubai chances but ‘has no regrets at all’ about missing Turkey

Even though the maths allows for it Rory McIlroy says he has no chance of claiming a fourth Race to Dubai title this weekend, yet he has no regrets over the decision that torpedoed his chances. Paul Radley reports from Dubai.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks down the sixth hole with caddie JP Fitzgerald during a pro-am round ahead of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 15, 2016 in DubaShow more

DUBAI // Even though the maths allows for it Rory McIlroy says he has no chance of claiming a fourth Race to Dubai title this weekend, yet he has no regrets over the decision that torpedoed his chances.

The Northern Irishman opted to skip this month’s Turkish Airlines Open because of security fears, meaning he lost ground – in all likelihood decisively – on Henrik Stenson at the top of the European Tour points list.

Starting fourth in the race, the world No 2 needs to win the DP World Tour Championship, and hope Stenson finishes outside the top 45, Danny Willett sixth or lower, and Alex Noren third.

Given the form of the two Swedish players in particular, it is a far-fetched outcome, but McIlroy is relaxed about the train of events that have led them here.

More on DP Tour World Championshipi:

• Paul Radley: No time to savour success for Swede Alex Noren

• Facts and figures: The Race to Dubai finale

“Mathematically I can win, but it’s not going to happen,” McIlroy said. “I don’t expect those guys to play badly this week.

“I’m just concentrating on trying to win the golf tournament and if I can do that, I’ll be very happy.”

McIlroy said he is “very happy with my decision” to miss the trip to Turkey, saying that he has spent the past few weeks in Dubai to practice and enjoy himself “so, no regrets at all”.

Having McIlroy and Stenson in contention here is hardly a new phenomenon.

They have monopolised the tournament since this season-ending finale was created in 2009.

In the past four years, McIlroy has won the Race to Dubai three times, and this tournament twice, while Stenson has won the tournament twice, and the money-list the only time McIlroy failed to.

Willett, though, has increasingly forced himself into the narrative in recent times. The Masters champion can cap what he describes as “a very turbulent year” by topping the money list if he wins the tournament.

It is the same situation he found himself in 12 months ago when he arrived in Dubai, when only a tournament win would have won him the Race to Dubai, ahead of McIlroy.

“It would be much better sat here in first, but there’s still one week left and there’s still a chance to get to No 1,” Willett said.

“It is kind of a win-win. If we can somehow topple Henrik, that would be fantastic. If we don’t, so be it. I’d love to finish first on the Race to Dubai at least once in my life.

“If I were to finish second for the rest of my life, it’s not that you’re playing bad golf, you’ve had a massively consistent year.”

From next season, as well as being the end of the Race to Dubai, this tournament will also be the climax to a new set of prestige events on the European Tour, known as the Rolex Series.

Each of the seven tournaments, in England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Turkey, South Africa and Dubai, will have a minimum prize purse of $7 million (Dh25.7m).

According to Keith Pelley, the chief executive of the European Tour, the series is “the natural next step for us” and a potential “game-changer” to make the tour more attractive to players currently gravitating towards the United States.

“One, we believe the success and growth of a high-profile series like the Rolex Series will elevate our tour, its brand, and all other events,” Pelley said.

“Two, and we really strongly believe this, we need a stronger content offering to enable us to reach larger audiences across multiple platforms, and that’s what the Rolex Series is about.

“And third, we need a product that can grow and grow over time, and provides a strong financial offering for our young players so they don’t have to go to the United States.”

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