This Thursday, the DP World Tour Championship begins with the exciting duel between Rory McIlroy and Marco Pengewith Tyrrell Hatton also in contentionfor the Race to Dubai title (DPWT's annual ranking) and, consequently, the Harry Vardon Trophy as the circuit's champion. The Northern Irishman starts with a 767-point lead over Penge and 1,721 over Hatton, a margin that is not yet decisive, but one that puts his fate in his own hands in a tournament where the winner takes home 2,000 points and the runner-up 1,335. In other words, a runner-up finish for McIlroy in the final event would guarantee him the Order of Merit.
Rory McIlroy, record
If he achieves his goal on Sunday at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Rory would become a seven-time winner of the Order of Merit. He would surpass Severiano Ballesteros, with whom he is currently tied at six, and move within one victory of Colin Montgomerie's record of eight, although the latter achieved their feats under very different ranking point and calendar circumstances.
There's no doubt that Rory is having a dream year, and surpassing Seve would cement his status as the best European player of all time, having already completed the Grand Slam this year by winning the Masters at Augusta (the first European to do so) and securing his fifth Ryder Cup. "Going from six to seven titles, surpassing Seve would be incredible. Getting closer to Monty (Montgomerie) would be incredible," McIlroy commented at a press conference in Dubai.
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Proof of Rory's greatness, which is being recognized while he is still an active player, is the creation of an award bearing his name. It will be given to the individual DP World Tour member with the best results across the four majors in a season (it has been established that he cannot win it). The world number two thus becomes the fifth golfer to have a DPWT award: "It's an incredible honor to have my name there alongside Harry Vardon, Sir Henry Cotton, Seve Ballesteros, and John Jacobs; it's very special."
