Rory McIlroy, six-time winner of the DP World Tour, has called on Europe’s top golfers to “step up” in support of the tour following the rise of the breakaway LIV Golf circuit. Speaking ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in the Middle East, McIlroy emphasized the importance of European stars prioritizing the tour’s marquee events to maintain its prestige and competitiveness.

McIlroy Chasing Seventh Race to Dubai Title

The Northern Irishman is on track to claim a seventh Race to Dubai title, putting him just one behind the European Tour’s all-time money list leader, Colin Montgomerie, provided he is not overtaken by rivals Marco Penge or Tyrrell Hatton at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Having already matched Seve Ballesteros by winning the Order of Merit six times, McIlroy is clear about his career ambitions:
“There’s a wonderful heritage to this tour,” he said. “With the fractured nature of men’s professional golf at the minute, this tour needs all of its stars to step up and play in the big events. I feel quite a responsibility to do that and to try to make this tour as strong as it can possibly be.”

Nine of the 12 victorious European Ryder Cup team members are competing this week, although LIV players Jon Rahm and Norway’s Viktor Hovland are absent. Austrian Sepp Straka was also excused to be with his family following the early birth of his son.

Race to Dubai Standings and Scenarios

McIlroy has played in 10 counting events this season, including the four majors—the Masters, US PGA, US Open, and Open Championship. With a strong points lead, finishing in the top two at the season finale would guarantee McIlroy the Race to Dubai crown, regardless of other results.

Marco Penge, having played 25 events, would need to finish tied for second or better and hope McIlroy falls below second to have any chance. Tyrrell Hatton, in third place, can only win if McIlroy finishes outside the top eight and Penge misses a shared second. These scenarios make McIlroy the overwhelming favorite for what could be his fourth consecutive Race to Dubai title.

“I wanted to prioritise it again,” McIlroy said. “After Covid, I decided what I want to focus on for the next 10 to 15 years, and one of those things is prioritising this tour a little bit again.”

Major Success Fuelling DP World Tour Dominance

McIlroy’s dominance on the DP World Tour has coincided with strong performances in majors, including his sensational Masters victory at Augusta, which completed a career Grand Slam last April.

“It’s coincided with better play in the majors,” he explained. “As a dual member of both tours, to have a chance to win you really need to perform well in those bigger events.”

He also praised Colin Montgomerie, who won seven consecutive Orders of Merit in the 1990s, noting the Scot’s sustained excellence against a golden generation of European golf including Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer, and Ian Woosnam.

“To sustain that for seven years straight probably doesn’t get talked about enough,” McIlroy said. “He had to fend off really tough competition in what was one of the golden ages of European golf.”

European Golf’s Future and LIV Competition

McIlroy’s comments highlight the ongoing challenge the European Tour faces from LIV Golf, with its high-profile signings creating a fragmented landscape in men’s professional golf. The Northern Irishman stressed that the tour’s strength relies on Europe’s biggest stars committing to its premier events and maintaining the prestige of the Race to Dubai.

“I understand that I am one of those people, and I want to do my utmost to help in whatever way I can,” he concluded. “We need to make this tour as strong as it can possibly be.”