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Career grand slam winner and five-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy will return to Yas Links for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from November 6-9 as he bids to win a seventh Race to Dubai Rankings crown.
The Masters Champion leads the Race to Dubai, having already secured his place in the field for the first event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs thanks to that thrilling victory at Augusta National, in addition to a fourth-place finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the first Rolex Series event of the season.
Staged by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the DP World Tour, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is the first event of the DP World Tour’s end of season showpiece, leading straight into the DP World Tour Championship where the Race to Dubai champion will be crowned. The top 70 available players at the conclusion of the Back 9 events will gather in Abu Dhabi for the fourth Rolex Series event of the year as the season comes to a close.
McIlroy became the first European to win the career grand slam earlier this year when he added a Green Jacket to his four previous Major victories at the 2011 U.S. Open, the US PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and The Open in 2014 and he will look to clinch a fourth successive Race to Dubai title when he returns to the Middle East in November.
The Key Holes: What to look out for at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, stated: “Abu Dhabi has firmly established itself as a world-class golfing destination by hosting internationally recognised tournaments that attract elite players from around the globe. We are proud to welcome Rory McIlroy – one of the sport’s greatest talents – to the 2025 edition.
“Since its inception, the Championship has played a pivotal role in supporting sports tourism and generating tangible economic benefits for the region. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the DP World Tour in delivering another outstanding event befitting the prestige of the Rolex Series.
“Hosting global sporting events reflects Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s commitment to enhancing both the local and international sports landscape. These events highlight the UAE’s proven capabilities in organising large-scale tournaments and reinforce our reputation as a trusted destination for world-class sports competitions.”
McIlroy said: “I love ending the season in the Middle East and I’m excited to return to Abu Dhabi again for the first of two big events later this year.
“I’ve started the year well and I’ve got a good record at Yas Links so hopefully I can continue doing what I’m doing and give myself a chance of finishing the season strongly and having a shot of getting another Race to Dubai under my belt.”
Paul Waring – 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – Getty Images
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship returns to Yas Links for the fourth season after England’s Paul Waring won his maiden Rolex Series title in 2024.
The top 70 available players on the Race to Dubai will battle it out at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which returns for its 20th edition in 2025, with the top 50 qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the following week.
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Main Image: Getty Images
