Rory McIlroy is on the verge of making history in Dubai, and he’s doing it in style.
The Northern Irish golf star pulled off an incredible shot on the final hole Friday, launching a fairway wood 265 yards over water to set up a birdie. That clutch finish put him just one shot behind the leader at the DP World Tour Championship.
Name
Events
Top 10
Money
Rory McIlroy
257
125
$90,989,348
But there’s an even bigger prize within reach. McIlroy’s practically got one hand on his sixth Race to Dubai trophy – the prestigious award for Europe’s top golfer of the year.
Only South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence could technically catch him, but he’d need to win this tournament. After two rounds, Lawrence is stuck at even par, nine shots off the pace.
“At this point, I’m just trying to win the golf tournament,” McIlroy said. “Everything else that happens alongside that is nice.”
The world No. 3 came out firing early in his second round, dropping four birdies in his first seven holes, including a beautiful 25-footer on the third. But he hit a rough patch mid-round, struggling to find fairways and giving back two shots.
That final hole magic saved his day, though. He finished with a 3-under 69, putting him at 8-under for the tournament.
The surprise leader is France’s Antoine Rozner, ranked 154th in the world, who shot a sizzling 65 to reach 9-under par.
For Rozner, this weekend could be life-changing. He’s among several players fighting for one of 10 PGA Tour cards up for grabs. A win would lock that up.
“I need a really good weekend for that,” Rozner said. “If I can have a chance on Sunday to either win it or get one of those cards, it would be great.”
England’s Tyrrell Hatton is tied with McIlroy in second place after matching his 69.
If McIlroy can seal the Race to Dubai title, he’ll join some legendary company. It would put him level with the late Seve Ballesteros at six titles, just two behind Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight.
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann sits alone in fourth place at 7-under, while a group including Ireland’s Shane Lowry is three shots back.
For McIlroy, who used to call Dubai home and has won three times on this course, the weekend ahead looks promising. But he knows there’s still work to do.
“Nice way to finish and a good position going into the weekend,” he said, clearly ready for the challenge ahead.
