The race to Dubai may be nearing an end, but the search for the 2024 DP World Tour Championship has only just begun. Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy opened the European final with a blistering score of 5-under 67, joining his Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton at the top of the leaderboard after the first day of action.
McIlroy began the week with a significant lead over Thirston Lawrence – the only man who could mathematically usurp him – in the season-long race and has already increased that lead. McIlroy needs to finish no worse than a solo 11th place to secure his sixth career Race to Dubai title. He holds the top spot, while Lawrence (needing a win) sits in a tie for 37th in the 50-man field.
“I want to go from here and win the golf tournament,” McIlroy said. “I started with a really good result but I have to play the same way over the next three days, not only to try to win the tournament but also to do my job in the Race to Dubai. Yes.” I'm under no illusions that this was probably Thriston's worst day. If he goes out and has three good ones, I still have to go out and play very solid golf.
The 35-year-old started his day in ideal fashion with two birdies on his first three holes. A setback occurred on the par-4 5th when he lost control of a wedge on his first shot, drifted far from the green and carded his only bogey of the round. From there, McIlroy picked his spots methodically, adding four more birdies and reaching the par-5 finisher, where his birdie attempt to take the lead fell by the wayside.
McIlroy's co-leader Hatton had a similar day at Jumeirah Estates with seven birdies and two bogeys on his card. The Englishman is currently teeing off mainly on LIV Golf and continues his quest for important Official World Golf Ranking and Ryder Cup points. After falling as low as 38th in the world rankings two months ago, Hatton has moved into the top 20 thanks to his win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and second place in Abu Dhabi last week.
A win could take him to second place in the final Race to Dubai standings, in a year in which he only competed in six DP World Tour events in addition to the major championships. Also fighting for second place is Hatton's Round 1 playing partner and Abu Dhabu HSBC Championship winner Paul Waring, who continued his solid play with a 68 on Thursday.
While Waring has all but secured his PGA Tour card for next season by finishing in the otherwise exempt top 10 in the Race to Dubai standings, the 39-year-old could go one better if he Lawrence could overtake another win. The leading finisher at the end of the week will be excluded from the first two signature events of the PGA Tour season and will have his 2025 schedule fully released.
“Let's go again. I loved it. I really enjoyed it last week. Yes, of course I want to play like this more often and take part in such big tournaments more often,” said Waring. “And it was great to play alongside someone like Tyrrell, who I have known for many years. He is a first class player. You know, just to see how he handles himself in situations like that, he just keeps going and grinding.” It was great to see that and it inspired me to keep going.
