Rory McIlroy spent last week at his Wentworth “summer home” but is ready to clock up the international air miles across the next few months in a bid to retain top spot on the European Tour.

McIlroy’s schedule to close out 2026 includes thousands of miles of travel to India and the United Arab Emirates in October and November towards closing in on rival Patrick Reed and the 307.76-point gap between the top two Harry Vardon Trophy challengers.

Back-to-back Masters champion McIlroy has lifted that prize for four successive years and will equal Colin Montgomerie’s record haul of eight wins if successful in 2026.

McIlroy finished Sunday’s BMW PGA Championship tied second with three other players behind JJ Spaun, having started his week celebrating home comforts after a family move to Wentworth earlier this year.

placeholder image — Rory McIlroy last week at Wentworth but will have international events on his end-of-year calendar towards Race to Dubai title joy. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

He highlighted recently how “it’s certainly our summer home and it certainly feels like that...lovely to sleep in my own bed” before no doubt enjoying a relaxed Sunday sleep thanks to 532 points for his Wentworth finish to cut the gap on Reed, with the latter having to withdraw due to injury.

McIlroy will be sleeping in the clouds for the foreseeable future with calendar commitments at the DP World India Championship (October 18), Abu Dhabi Championship (November 8) and DP World Tour Championship (November 15).

But he is relishing the international run-in having made his professional debut in India last year and highlighting how “I love the Middle East...I have a lot of friends there and I'm looking forward to going back for sure”.

“Obviously I'm in a very fortunate position to be going for an eighth Race to Dubai...I can't believe I'm sitting here with seven,” said McIlroy when asked by media about the European Tour crown countdown.

He added: “I'm certainly motivated to play well for the rest of the year.

“Still working on some things in my swing, so just trying to have a balance between still keeping an eye on that but trying to play my best golf and give myself some chances to win.

"It doesn't matter who's up there...I think being second right now and being a little ways off first, that's motivation enough."