Rory McIlroy Can Still Tie Monty Record With One Win
· Yahoo Sports
Rory McIlroy can still secure a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, but the window is closing fast. He sits 533.93 points behind leader Eugenio Chacarra with just one tournament left on the schedule. A victory at the DP World Tour Championship starting Thursday, Nov. 12, guarantees the trophy for the Northern Irishman regardless of where Chacarra finishes. This is the only path that secures the win without needing help from others.
The math gets much harder if McIlroy finishes second or lower. He must finish at least fourth in the 50-man field to have any chance of overtaking the Spaniard. Chacarra leads by a margin that requires a massive swing in points. McIlroy finished third last week in Abu Dhabi to cut the lead almost in half, but the gap remains significant. Patrick Reed sits in third place, a further 181 points back, and could still complicate the standings if he wins.
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The Chacarra Factor
Eugenio Chacarra holds the advantage because he controls his own destiny. The 26-year-old Spaniard has won three times this season and needs only a victory in Dubai to guarantee the title. He faces a direct fight with McIlroy, who has dominated this race for the past 15 years. Chacarra knows the challenge he faces against the veteran. Chacarra remarked about the latest golfer to achieve the career Grand Slam “He’s the No. 2 player in the world and the No. 1 in Europe,”
Chacarra admits the experience gap is real. McIlroy has played the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates many times, while Chacarra has been there only once. “And he’s been doing it for a long time and he plays really good out in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. He has played that course a million times, and I only played it once,” Chacarra said, according to theScore. He acknowledges the odds favor the Northern Irishman but remains confident in his own game. A three-time title winner this season, Chacarra stated “Obviously,” “the odds are on him and he’s the favorite. But we’ll play golf. We know what I’m capable of when I am playing good.”
McIlroy’s Path to Glory
McIlroy knows exactly where he needs to be. His third-place finish last week lifted him above Patrick Reed in the standings and secured his spot in the final pairing for Thursday’s first round. “That’s where I wanted to be,” McIlroy said. The pressure is familiar territory for a player who has won this event three times previously, including in 2024. “It’s a pretty familiar spot for me going into the DP World Tour Championship and I’m excited for it.”
McIlroy must accumulate a minimum of 534 points over Chacarra to claim the title. If he finishes second, he wins only if Chacarra finishes third or lower and Reed does not win. Chacarra needs to place 12th or worse, Reed third or worse, and no other contender to win for a third-place finish. The permutations become even tighter if McIlroy finishes fourth. A 47th place or worse result for Chacarra in the 50-man field, plus Reed finishing third or lower with no other victor, would be required. If McIlroy finishes fifth or lower, he cannot win the Race to Dubai.
Other Contenders and Stakes
While McIlroy and Chacarra are the main story, others remain in the mix. Last week in Abu Dhabi, Jon Rahm claimed his first DP World Tour win in more than three years. He sits sixth in the standings, around 1,700 points behind Chacarra, but a win there gives him a shot. “Actually gives me a little extra incentive,” Rahm said regarding the points chase. A win for any of the nine mathematical contenders requires the top two to finish very low on the leaderboard. The season-long prize includes a $3 million check for the tournament winner and a chance for 10 players to earn a ticket to the PGA Tour.
The 2,000 points up for grabs at Jumeirah Golf Estates make this the most volatile finale in recent memory. Chacarra can guarantee the title with a win, while McIlroy needs a specific set of results to tie Colin Montgomerie’s record. The race comes down to one week of golf starting Thursday, Nov. 12.