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Rory McIlroy remains optimistic about his form heading into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, despite missing out on victory at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. McIlroy tied for the lead on the back nine of his final round before finishing in third place, four strokes behind champion Jon Rahm.
McIlroy Shifts Focus to Season Finale
McIlroy launched his final round at Yas Links GC with a birdie-eagle start and held a share of the lead with seven holes remaining. However, he played his final seven holes in 1 over par to close with a 3-under 69, completing the tournament at 19 under overall. The result leaves McIlroy without a tournament victory since successfully defending his title at The Masters in April.
The third-place outcome marks McIlroy’s 11th top-three finish in 15 career appearances in Abu Dhabi without taking the trophy. Despite falling short of the win, the performance moved him ahead of Patrick Reed into second place in the Race to Dubai standings as he pursues a record-equalling eighth Order of Merit title.
Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy noted that missed birdied opportunities on the 12th and 13th holes halted his momentum down the stretch. Nevertheless, he expressed encouragement regarding his overall play and welcomed securing a position in Thursday’s final pairing alongside leader Eugenio Chacarra.
Chacarra Maintains Standings Lead
McIlroy trails Chacarra by 533.93 points entering the DP World Tour Championship, where 2,000 points are awarded to the winner and 1,335 points to the runner-up. Chacarra has led the standings since winning the DP World India Championship in October, which was his third victory of the season.
Although short-game errors kept Chacarra out of contention in Abu Dhabi, he highlighted strong driving over his final two rounds as a positive foundation. He explained that refining his wedge play and short game will be essential to holding off McIlroy in the finale.
Rahm Joins Title Race After Victory
Jon Rahm claimed the Abu Dhabi title to secure his 11th DP World Tour victory and a record-breaking sixth Rolex Series crown. The win was Rahm’s first title since the 2023 Masters and elevated him to sixth in the Race to Dubai standings.
Mathematically, nine players retain a chance to capture the overall Race to Dubai title. Rahm noted that entering the final week with an opportunity to win the season series provides added motivation as he targets a fourth career DP World Tour Championship title.
The DP World Tour season concludes at the DP World Tour Championship, which features the top 50 available players in the standings.
