Rory McIlroy Sets Sights On Race To Dubai Title

Having already claimed the U.S. PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and the world number one spot this year, Rory McIlroy is now turning his attentions to finally winning the Race To Dubai title.

The Northern Irishman is already guaranteed to top the standings on the PGA Tour after four wins, and he wants to follow in the footsteps of former world number one and double money list winner Luke Donald by holding on to his current European Tour lead. 

“The big goal is just to keep my level up and try to win the Race to Dubai,” McIlroy said, speaking ahead of his first match in the inaugural World Golf Final in Turkey on Tuesday.

“If I can win it this time it would be a great way to cap off a great season.”

The 23-year-old has never won the Race to Dubai standings, finishing runner-up in 2009 and 2011, but he is currently £346,000 ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose.

South African Branden Grace is third in the list, after his fifth victory of the season at the Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday.

Although he is over £600,000 back, there remains enough money on offer for him to complete an unbelievable campaign. “First is definitely in my sights,” Grace said. “The gap is not a lot – maybe one more win or a couple of good finishes.”

McIlroy added: “I watched some of the golf on Sunday and he was very impressive down the stretch, especially after the wobble he had around the turn. We have some big-money events left so there’s a lot that can happen.”

One of those events is not the new eight-man tournament in Turkey, because none of the £3.2m prize fund will count to the money list as the event is not sanctioned by the European or PGA Tours.

McIlroy will compete against Tiger Woods, Charl Schwartzel Matt Kuchar, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, Hunter Mahan and Webb Simpson.

To read more about the Turkish event, click here.