Rory McIlroy happy for ‘boring’ end to season as he closes on Race to Dubai title
Rory McIlroy would love nothing more than a “boring” end to the season as he bids to win a sixth Race to Dubai title with a week to spare.
McIlroy holds a commanding lead at the top of the money list and will emulate the late Seve Ballesteros in winning a sixth Harry Vardon trophy with a victory or runner-up finish in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
That would take the four-time major winner within two of Colin Montgomerie’s record tally, the Scot winning seven in a row from 1993-1999 and his eighth title in 2005.
“If I go out and win this week it makes it a bit boring next week. But I won’t find it boring, it will be lovely,” McIlroy said.
“All I can focus on is the task at hand and trying to play as well as I can this week, give myself another chance to win. I’ve had a lot of good chances this year, I’ve converted a couple but I’ve let a few slip away.
“The last couple of years I’ve recommitted to trying to win the Race to Dubai. I probably didn’t play enough on the DP World Tour for a few years to really give myself a chance, but I’ve really tried to recommit to making it something that’s important to me.
“To win the last two years, and going for my third in a row, trying to go for six overall, it’s a pretty meaningful thing to do.
“Obviously trying to get to Monty’s number of eight, or maybe surpass it, is definitely a goal in the future, but I would like to go down as the most successful European of all time.
“Obviously Race to Dubai wins would count to that, but also major championships and hopefully I’ve got a few more Ryder Cups ahead of me as well.
“So that’s something that I think is a goal that’s quite attainable over the next 10 years.”
McIlroy leads Thriston Lawrence by 1,572.39 points on the Race to Dubai, with Rasmus Hojgaard a further 347.89 points adrift.
With 1,500 points on offer for the winner at Yas Links and 1,000 for the runner-up, either of those positions would be good enough for McIlroy to secure the title ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where the winner will earn 2,000 points.