(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Rory McIlroy has sewn up the Race to Dubai but he won't go without stiff challenge on the Earth in his bid to add the season-ending $8million DP World Championship trophy to his collection. The next four days, golf aficionados in Dubai can expect a high octane golf at the stunning 7675-yard Jumeirah Golf Estates course.
McIlroy is enjoying a dream run that has made him the world number golfer with victories in two major events. This is second time McIlroy has bagged the Race to Dubai, having first won in 2012.
"I'm very proud to have won The Race to Dubai again, the second time in three years, and doing it not having to do anything this week, I guess, is an added bonus," beaming champion told Media on Tuesday after a mandatory round of ProAm.
When Brooks Koepka of the USA won the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya, headlines across the world said McIlroy had won the Race to Dubai sitting on a couch. Well, he was far from a couch. "I read that 'Rory, he's just won The Race to Dubai sitting on the couch this weekend'."
"No, I was probably on the range. I probably won it on the range," he said, revealing that he had been in Dubai for over ten days and was hitting the balls in his quest to win the last crown of the season. "I still want to play really well this week and try and win this tournament, because there would be no point in me showing up, if I thought that I had already won something and was just here for a good time," he stressed.
"So I want to pick two trophies up on the 18th green on Sunday instead of one," he said as a warning to the other contenders. Defending champion in Dubai, Henrik Stenson, is also looking at ending the season by retaining the trophy in Dubai. "Last year was very special, and, well, I know it can't be as special this year because Rory (McIlroy) has already won the overall race," he said during a media briefing on Wednesday.
"But I can make it a very special week for myself by playing well here and hopefully give myself a chance to win. I haven't defended a title as of yet, so I couldn't think of a much better place to do it than here this week," the US-settled Swedish golfer added. While McIlroy skipped the previous three Race to Dubai events, Jamie Donaldson, Sergio Garcia and Marcel Siem had a mathematical chance of preventing McIlroy being crowned European Tour Number 1 for 2014, but all three had to win in Antalya to have a chance of doing so.
The three will also be very keen to add a title to their kitty to end the season on a happy note. While the top ranked players will be vying for top honours in Dubai, the American rookie Koepka is the golfer, who can take inspiration from the Formula 1 event in Abu Dhabi and overtake the fancied bunch on Sunday for another title after the triumph in turkey that gave McIlory the Harry Vardon Trophy.
There have been a number of spectacular moments of high drama and excitement in the DP World Tour Championship. And, as the event unfolds for the next four days, expect more such dramatic moments written in the short but colourful history of the 72-par course. sunilvaidya@khaleejtimes.com
Stenson aims to retain title
Last year he shot 25-under and the three-wood 248-yard shot on the 18th that was voted the European Tour Shot of the Year on his way to the DP World Tour Championship title at the Jumeirah Golf Estates and this year, Henrik Stenson wants to retain the crown to at least spoil Rory McIlroy's coronation.
"Even though I shot 25-under last year, I can't think about that this week," said the amiable Swede Stenson. "The ball doesn't know what we did last year - it has to be told. I'm not guaranteed anything just because I played well last year. Yes, I know how to play this course but I still have to do it, stay focused and (be) patient and do it all over again." The Swede wants to make the week at the Earth a special one by racing past McIlroy for the title at a course that has appointed him as the official brand ambassador.
"Last year was very special and while I know it can't be as special this year because Rory has already won the overall Race to Dubai, I can make it a very special week for myself by playing well here and hopefully giving myself a chance to win," added Stenson. "I haven't successfully defended a title yet, so I couldn't think of a much better place to do it than here this week."
"It's nice to come into this stretch and feel I can salvage something in 2014. After finishing sixth then second, it would be nice to win this week and move nicely up that board so that has to be the aim this week."
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