The highest 70 out there gamers on the DP World Tour rankings are heading out to the United Arab Emirates this week because the European circuit’s 2024 schedule involves a climax on the remaining two occasions of the season – the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the DP World Tour Championship.
This week sees section three of the DP World Tour season – the DP World Tour Play-Offs – start with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Historically held in January, the match has moved to a brand new slot within the schedule as a part of a brand new initiative on the Race to Dubai.
The highest 70 gamers will tee it up at Yas Hyperlinks in Abu Dhabi this week for the primary of two new-look season-ending Play-Offs, with the highest 50 then advancing to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
RORY REPEAT?
With simply two occasions to go within the marketing campaign, Rory McIlroy arrives within the Center East heading in the right direction to equal Seve Ballesteros’ document of six Harry Vardon trophies. The reigning Race to Dubai champion opened his 2024 season with a runner-up end on the Dubai Invitational, earlier than a profitable title defence on the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional.
He then loved sturdy performances on the first three males’s Majors of the yr, narrowly lacking out on victory on the US Open. Again-to-back runner-up finishes on the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship then cemented him on the summit of the season-long standings.
HOST OF CHALLENGERS
His nearest challenger is South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who trails by greater than 1,500 factors and arrives trying to mount a title problem as he prepares to earn twin membership standing with the PGA Tour. Rasmus Højgaard is subsequent, slightly below 2,000 factors adrift of McIlroy in third after incomes his fifth DP World Tour title on the Irish Open in September.
Statistically there are nonetheless 37 gamers in with an opportunity of successful the Harry Vardon Trophy, however all that’s based mostly on McIlroy ending final in Abu Dhabi and Dubai subsequent week – which appears considerably unlikely.
A stellar line-up of expertise has assembled in Abu Dhabi, with 9 of the highest ten and 18 of the highest 20 on the Race to Dubai making the journey for the beginning of the DP World Tour Play-Offs.
Together with McIlroy, there are a bunch of different headline names in motion together with fellow Main champions Adam Scott, Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, together with Olympic Silver Medallist Tommy Fleetwood. Amongst a bunch of different DP World Tour stars are Min Woo Lee, Bob MacIntyre and the Højgaard twins. Of the 39 gamers to win a title on the 2024 Race to Dubai, 28 are teeing it up this week.
TOUGH TRACK
Designed by Kyle Phillips and opened in 2010, Yas Hyperlinks has been described by its creator as the primary true hyperlinks golf course within the Center East. The par 72 format, measuring 7,425 yards, staged the match for the third time in. Eight of the holes run alongside the shoreline, offering fantastic views of the Arabian Gulf. Whereas the course is thought to be being beneficiant off the tee, Event Director Miguel Vidaor says gamers should be cautious of being too aggressive with the tough longer than for the previous two editions.
“It’s fairly extensive for the tee photographs, however in the event you go in a few of these areas within the tough then it’s far more punishing than it has ever been,” Vidaor stated. “They’re going to be a terrific check for these guys.”
TEE TIMES & TV SCHEDULE
First spherical motion in Abu Dhabi will get below method on Thursday at 4am UK time, with McIlroy teeing off alongside title rivals Thriston Lawrence and Rasmus Højgaard at 4.23am, whereas Adam Scott, Tyrrell Hatton and Matteo Manassero in a three-ball that is because of exit at 4.01am.
On Friday, viewers will be capable of observe Min Woo Lee, Justin Rose and Niklas Nørgaard from 4.01am within the second spherical, whereas Tommy Fleetwood is enjoying alongside Ryder Cup team-mates Bob MacIntyre and Shane Lowry in a sport at 4.23am GMT.
To take a look at all of the tee occasions for the primary spherical, click on right here.
Viewers can catch all of the motion dwell on Sky Sports activities Golf, with a highlights bundle out there within the night.
The DP World Tour can be providing a free dwell stream for all 4 rounds on its My Tour part. To seek out out extra and to register, click on right here.
