Rory McIlroy taking confidence from lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour ahead of Race to Dubai finale
Rory McIlroy carded his lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour as a 62 fell agonisingly short of glory over the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The Northern Irishman left himself just too much to do after the opening three rounds, coming up one shot short in a tie for third place with Nicolai Hojgaard, after a stunning 10-under final round of 62, comprising eight birdies and an eagle.
However, the glory went to Aaron Rai as he beat his fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood on the first play-off hole.
Despite falling just short in his bid for the honours yesterday, McIlroy lifted plenty of positives from his final round.
“Once I was 9-under through 14, I thought, okay, if I can post a number here, I knew 15, 16, 17, were playing tough back into the wind off the left,” he reflected. “I did hit a good wedge shot on 15. Just got caught by the wind...16 and 17, I watched Aaron and Tommy play those two holes and they played them unbelievably well.
"It's hard to make birdies on those holes and I knew on 18, the one thing I said to Harry (Diamond, caddie) walking off the green is ‘at least we are going to make them earn it no matter what happens’.
“Obviously ended up one short but great day of golf, and a great way to end the week. And also a great way to sort of go into next week into Dubai, as well.”
McIlroy will aim to be become the Race to Dubai champion for the seventh time next at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, where a cool £1.5m bonus is up for grabs.
His nearest challengers are Marco Penge and Tyrrell Hatton – but McIlroy believes the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates suits his game as he takes a healthy 767-point lead into the final event, where 2000 points are up for grabs.
"I really like that golf course,” he explained. “It really suits me. Probably suits me a little bit better than this course does this week just in terms of what you need to do off the tee and into the greens.
"Yeah, look, this was a great confidence-builder this week coming off a couple weeks off and hopefully just produce more of the same next Thursday and onwards.”