DP World Tour : Tour Championship Tee Times
The DP World Tour reaches its 44th and final event of the 2024 Race to Dubai schedule this week as the top 50 available players tee it up at Jumeirah Golf Estates on the Rolex Series.
What McIlroy needs to do to win sixth Race to Dubai
Unlike last season when Rory McIlroy arrived in Dubai for the season-ending showpiece assured of lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy, there is still work to be done in his quest for Race to Dubai glory. In his 12 starts this campaign, he has won once at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January, finished runner-up four times and recorded three further top five finishes. The latest of those came at last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as he strengthened his position at the summit of the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex.
Rory McIlroy is aiming to win his sixth Race to Dubai title, which would leave him two behind Colin Montgomerie's record of eight
With one event to go, there is just one player who can deny him becoming European Number One for a sixth time: Thriston Lawrence. The South African has five runner-up finishes and five more top tens but knows a victory is the minimum this week if he is to have a chance of surpassing McIlroy, who has a lead of 1,785.02 points. Even then, a first Rolex Series title for Lawrence wouldn’t be enough if McIlroy finishes solo 11th or better.
Career-changing dual membership with PGA TOUR up for grabs
In addition to the season-long champion, the DP World Tour Championship will also determine the top ten players on the Race to Dubai Rankings (not otherwise exempt) who will be eligible to claim dual membership and a PGA TOUR card next year. Lawrence leads that list, followed by Rasmus Højgaard, Paul Waring, Niklas Norgaard, Matteo Manassero, Jesper Svensson, Thorbjørn Olesen, Rikuya Hoshino, Sebastian Söderberg and Jordan Smith.
Tom McKibbin is the man looking in from the outside, with Guido Migliozzi also around the bubble ahead of what could be a career-changing week for so many players. Statistically, everyone including Francesco Laporta – the last man in the field – can play their way into the top ten.
Of the ten players who benefited from the formal pathway to compete on the PGA TOUR last season, Matthieu Pavon and Robert MacIntyre both won titles and reached the Tour Championship. They were two of six to retain their full playing privileges stateside, alongside Ryan Fox, Victor Perez, Sami Välimäki and Ryo Hisatsune.
Inside the field
The fifth and final Rolex Series event of the season features the top 50 available players on the Race to Dubai Rankings, with 2023 Ryder Cup-winning teammates Ludvig Åberg and Jon Rahm missing through injury or otherwise.
World Number Three McIlroy is the top ranked player and one of four Major Champions teeing it up alongside Adam Scott, Shane Lowry and Justin Rose. They are joined by Rolex Series winners Billy Horschel, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Min Woo Lee and its most recent member of the roll of honour in Waring.
More than half of the field consists of DP World Tour winners this season, with 27 in total on show in Dubai. Of those, 11 are first-time winners, with France’s David Ravetto among those having earned his DP World Tour card through Qualifying School last year.
Matteo Manassero, Jesper Svensson, Joe Dean and Angel Hidalgo have all been stories of the season and will hope to enjoy fitting finishes to their campaigns.
edit ** Canada's lone representative on the DP World Tour, Aaron Cockerill is in his 5th and best season, qualifying for the Tour Championship for the first time at #49.
From Teulon, just outside Winnipeg, Aaron has moved his family, Chelsea and daughter Addison to Dubai to avoid the brutal Canadian winters, cut out all that travel and take advantage of not just the weather, but practice facilities and all the other Western qualities of life on offer in the UAE.
Just qualifying has been a great bonus, and I now feel he has a free reign to let all his talent flow this week, with guaranteed prize money on tap.
Rolex Series history over the Earth course
Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth course – part of the European Tour Destinations network of venues – will host the DP World Tour Championship for the 16th time this week, having first done so in 2009. Eight years later the event became part of the Rolex Series, and it has continued to deliver excitement and headline champions.
A general view of the sixth hole at the Earth course
Nicolai Højgaard won the title last year but missed out on having the chance to defend his title as he finished 59th on the Rankings after the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. All four winners of this season’s Rolex Series events are in Dubai though, with past champion McIlroy hoping to win the title for the first time since 2012.
This is a course that, similarly to Yas Links, suits long drivers and great putters. The long hitters can easily reach all the par fives and they can also carry some bunkers to make the course a lot easier. The greens are relatively easy to hit so good putters can also separate themselves from the field. If you look at previous winners it’s mostly been great drivers (Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Nicolai Højgaard) or great putters (Matt Fitzpatrick, Danny Willett).
Rory McIlroy is one of the favourites, like any week of the year. He loves playing in the Middle East and he is the best player in the field. He can take full advantage of his driving around Jumeirah Golf Estates and he has a great record around here.
Tommy Fleetwood has been a serious contender with 4 top 5's in his last 5 starts over the Earth Course. Now he is based there full time so he will have some local knowledge. He struggled on the greens at the venue over the last three years but his tee to green performances have been second to none.
Tyrrell Hatton is in good form after a great win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and a runner-up finish in Abu Dhabi. He was a close second in 2022 and he seems to like the course as he was able to gain shots in every area over the last three years. His great putting could really make a difference this week.
europeantour.com
Edoardo Molinari
Bryan Angus (edit)
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