ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

November 9, 2025

Rory McIlroy

Q. 62, your low round of the year at this tournament of this week here at the tournament. Talk us through that remarkable day'?

RORY McILROY: I got off to a really good start. I was 3-under through two. Hit two great shots into the first, two great shots into the second, converted. And then stalled a little bit on the front nine. I birdied 7 to get to 4-under.

I played the front nine very well this week, and then it was on the back nine that I couldn't really get anything going. But I started the back nine with getting five birdies in a row. Drove it on to the 10th green again. Hit a couple of really good wedges in that stretch and knocked them in.

Once I was 9-under through 14, I thought, okay, if I can post a number here, I knew 15, 16, 17, were playing tough back into the wind off the left.

I did hit a good wedge shot on 15. Just got caught by the wind a built.

16 and 17, I watched the a Aaron and Tommy played those two holes, and they played them unbelievably well. Yeah, just it's hard to make birdies on those holes and I knew on 18, the one thing I said to Harry walking off the green is "At least we are going to make them earn it no matter what happens."

Obviously ended up one short but great day of golf, and a great way to end the week. And also a great way to sort of go into next week into Dubai, as well.

Q. I was going to mention that because Marco had an amazing day like you funny enough. How much were you leaderboard watching? He was making a run.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I saw he really got it going at the start of the back nine there. I saw he was at like 20-under, and then I think he dropped back and then he birdied the last.

Yeah, I just tried to keep my foot down and make as many birdies as possible knowing that, okay, I'm trying to win this tournament but also give myself the biggest cushion possible going into Duke next week, as well.

Q. How much are you looking forward to it? A place you clearly love.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I really like that golf course. It really suits me. Probably suits me a little bit better than this course does this week just in terms of what you need to do off the tee and into the greens. Yeah, look, this was a great confidence-builder this week coming off a couple weeks off and hopefully just produce more of the same next Thursday and onwards.