Race to Dubai frontrunner Rory McIlroy is aiming to finally secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title – now celebrating its 20th edition – as he looks to complete his collection of UAE honours.
McIlroy has claimed seven of his 20 DP World Tour victories in the UAE, including four Hero Dubai Desert Classic wins and three DP World Tour Championship titles, having first competed in the Emirates in 2006.
However, despite multiple near victories – including four runner-up finishes in Abu Dhabi – the Masters champion has yet to lift the Falcon Trophy, leaving one notable omission from a record that also features five Major Championships and 29 PGA TOUR wins.
“I’ve been close,” said McIlroy in his pre-tournament press conference. “Second four times and third five times or something.
“I’d say the majority of the times that we’ve played in Abu Dhabi, it’s been my first event of the year, and you’re just not quite… I’m not saying that’s all the reason but you’re just not quite as sharp and not quite as match fit as you would be in the middle of the season. I feel like this tournament going to the end of the year should hopefully give me a better opportunity to knock it off and finally get that Falcon Trophy.
“With how much I’ve won in Dubai and not being able to get it done an hour down the road, yeah, it’s something I want to try and achieve.”
McIlroy enters the opening leg of the DP World Tour Play-Offs with a 441.32-point lead over Marco Penge in the Race to Dubai Rankings. A season-ending victory would earn him a seventh Harry Vardon Trophy, placing him just one behind Colin Montgomerie’s all-time record of eight.
“When I got to six last year and tied Seve, and Monty doesn’t feel that far away, it’s like, yeah, that’s something that I would love to do,” said McIlroy, who will play alongside Penge and Tyrrell Hatton in the opening round.
“Let’s see if I can do it. I’ve given myself a really good shot again this year. But I know I’m going to have a good challenge from Marco and Tyrrell and a few other guys behind me. But I’m excited for the challenge over these next couple weeks.”
General admission tickets are free for the first two days of the tournament, while tickets for the weekend start from AED 100.
Spectators can also upgrade to Bar on Nine, the popular Ticket+ experience, with a limited number of promotional-rate tickets available from AED 230, including an AED 100 food and beverage voucher.
For those seeking premium hospitality, the Championship Chalet on the 18th green offers five-star service and exceptional views. The air-conditioned chalet and shaded balcony overlook the final hole, with access priced from AED 1680.