The 2024 Race to Dubai could be wrapped up by the time the DP World Tour Championship gets underway next week.
If Rory McIlroy finishes second at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this weekend, he will claim the Race to Dubai title for the sixth time, equalling Seve Ballesteros‘ tally.
The Irishman currently leads his nearest challenger, Thriston Lawrence, by around 1,600 points.
Any player who falls more than 2,000 points behind won’t stand a chance of pipping McIlroy to the title at the season-ending event at Jumeirah Golf Estates – if it gets that far.
If the 35-year-old fails to wrap things up at Yas Links, there are plenty of points up for grabs in this tournament, meaning we could have a new champion.
But no matter what happens at the HSBC Championship, McIlroy will head into the DP World Tour Championship at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.
DP World Tour Championship: Date and how to follow
This tournament is being held from Thursday, November 14 to Sunday, November 17.
It is being held on the Earth Course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. The course is a par 72 and has a maximum yardage of 7,675.
Play is expected to begin at around 4am UK time.
talkSPORT will provide updates from Dubai throughout the week.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
Sky Sports Golf will also have full coverage of the action and you can find out more here.
DP World Tour Championship: Field and tee times
This tournament has a reduced field of 50 players.
The final 50 are not fully confirmed, with points up for grabs in the HSBC Championship.
But there are a few guaranteed big names to be there.
McIlroy is one of those of course, along with Tommy Fleetwood, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre.
The full field can be found here, while the tee times and groupings will be confirmed in due course.
The latest leaderboard from Dubai can be found here once play gets underway.
DP World Tour Championship: What has been said?
McIlroy said: “Competing at the DP World Tour Championship is always something I look forward to at the end of the season.
“Dubai has been a special place for me, and I’ve been fortunate to achieve a lot of success there.
“To have the chance to equal Seve’s record is incredibly meaningful, he was a pioneer for European golf, and his impact on the world game can’t be overstated.
“It’s going to be a couple of big weeks in the Middle East with the DP World Tour Play-offs and I’m focused on playing some good golf to put myself in contention for more titles.”
