Rory McIlroy’s Position at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Rory McIlroy is the clear favourite as he prepares to compete at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. However, unlike usual, he will not hold the title of the longest hitter in his group come Thursday at the DP World Tour event.
Rivalry with Marco Penge
McIlroy will be paired with Marco Penge, an English player known for his powerful driving. Penge has secured three DP World Tour titles in 2025 and is expected to challenge McIlroy in a driving duel during the tournament. This pairing has drawn considerable attention, especially since both were asked about their driving distances before the event.
Driving Distance Stats
- Rory McIlroy’s average driving distance: 320.3 yards
- Marco Penge’s average driving distance: 319.19 yards
- Nicolai Hojgaard leads with 321.5 yards on average
Effectiveness of Drives
While the distances are close, Penge excels in how impactful his long drives are in the game.
- Penge ranks second in strokes gained off the tee with +1.06
- He trails Jon Rahm by only 0.01 points, despite Rahm playing fewer tournaments
Players’ Comments on Driving
“I don’t know,” Penge said when asked on Tuesday about who will hit it longer.
The two players will compete for the first time together as the top contenders in the Race to Dubai standings, adding extra excitement to their matchup.
Author’s Summary
Rory McIlroy faces a rare driving challenge against Marco Penge in Abu Dhabi, as Penge's impressive power and efficiency add intrigue to their top-tier rivalry.