DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 11, 2025

Rory McIlroy

Q. Here we are once again, in Dubai, season-ending event, and you have the opportunity to win The Race to Dubai for the fourth consecutive time, seventh overall. You've talked about chasing more of those big moments. What does it mean to be the No. 1 player on the DP World Tour?

RORY McILROY: It means a lot to me. These are the people I grew up idolising. I remember my mom and dad bringing me to Wentworth for The World Match Play back in the day. First time I saw Seve in the flesh. I remember watching Monty win it. Just the names that are synonymous with European golf and doing great things for this tour and for the Ryder Cup Team. You know, to be up there alongside them is something that I'm really, really proud of.

Q. Obviously a job to do this week. Some stiff opposition to hold off, including Marco Penge, who played with you for the first time last week. Some lovely pictures circulating, being a little boy and having a picture of you when you had already arrived on the big stage. From what you've seen of him, what sort of talent is he, and how well do you have to play this week to hold him off?

RORY McILROY: I have to play well. It would be lovely if -- the last couple times I've wrapped up here, I've pretty much had The Race to Dubai in the bag, and I could just focus on trying to win the tournament.

This week I've got one eye on trying to win the tournament but then another eye on making sure I keep Marco at bay. He's had an amazing year, winning three times. Yeah, he's an amazing talent. I got to play with him the first two days last week. Hits it a mile. He looks really, really good over it. Doesn't look like he's got a ton of weaknesses. I think the only thing he needs to do is gain experience, and gain experience playing in different courses and different conditions.

Yeah, he definitely looks like he has a strong future.

Q. Big news, the DP World Tour announcing the ten-year renewal of the partnership with DP World. With the current climate in the world of golf, how significant of a thing is that for the Tour?

RORY McILROY: It's amazing. To have the backing of DP World gives the Tour a lot of stability going forward. Look, I think this time of year is where the DP World Tour can really shine and then get its best players together and play in tournaments like this and in Abu Dhabi week and the whole Back Nine Swing that we've had.

It's an amazing commitment from DP World to sign up for another ten years, and obviously the players are delighted with that. It's lovely to know that that side of things on the DP World Tour is secure and stable for the foreseeable future, which is great.

Q. The DP World Tour has also announced the Rory McIlroy Award. What is it all about, and what does it mean to have your name attached to it?

RORY McILROY: It's a big honour. I'm so used to trying to play for the Seve Award for the Harry Vardon. I think for me to have an award is very -- seems pretty early, but it's very cool. Guy and Eric approached us early this year after the Masters and came up with this idea.

I think it's a great idea to award the award to the best performing DP World Tour player in the four major championships, obviously to recognise what I have done in the majors. It's a huge honour, and I can't wait to be able to hand that award out next year.