Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship: Five things to know

The DP World Tour Play-Offs begin this week with a remarkable lineup at Yas Links for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Season Overview

After 40 events spanning five continents and 27 countries, covering five Global Swings and the Back 9, the DP World Tour Play-Offs have arrived. There have been 35 different winners this season, including 19 players who lifted a DP World Tour trophy for the first time. Notable Swing Champions include John Parry, Laurie Canter, Keita Nakajima, Kristoffer Reitan, and Marco Penge.

Major Achievements

Rory McIlroy ended a decade-long wait for a Major victory at the Masters, completing his career Grand Slam.
Europe won the Ryder Cup on U.S. soil.

Play-Offs and Rankings

The Play-Offs, starting at Yas Links and continuing with the DP World Tour Championship next week, will determine Europe’s Number One player.

Rory McIlroy leads the Race to Dubai Rankings and arrives in Abu Dhabi aiming for his seventh Harry Vardon Trophy and fourth consecutive win. However, he faces stiff competition from three-time winner Marco Penge, who trails by 441.32 points.

McIlroy currently holds 4,132.56 points but with enhanced points available during the next two weeks, a player could earn up to 3,500 points with back-to-back wins. Even two last-place finishes could accumulate at least 77.6 points.

Competition Outlook

Despite McIlroy’s dominance, the point system keeps the race open, making it possible for challengers to close the gap quickly in these critical final events.

Summary: The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship marks a thrilling start to the DP World Tour Play-Offs, with top players fiercely contesting the Race to Dubai title amid high stakes and enhanced points.

DP World Tour — 2025-11-03