Rory McIlroy surprised Race to Dubai title tilt is still in his own hands

Rory McIlroy admits he is pleasantly surprised to still be in control of his own destiny as he looks to win a third Race to Dubai title in four years.

McIlroy did not play the BMW Masters last week and would have been overtaken by Danny Willett if the Englishman had finished alone in 28th or better in Shanghai.

However, a final round of 70 at Lake Malaren left Willett in a tie for 28th with two other players and means he trails McIlroy by just 1,613 points heading into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

A total of seven players can still win the Race to Dubai, although Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace need to finish second or better at Jumeirah Golf Estates, while Byeong Hun An has to win.

“I didn’t quite think I’d be in this position, especially after taking the week off last week, but a few of the guys didn’t capitalise on that in China thankfully and I find myself in a position where it’s totally in my hands,” McIlroy said.

“If I go out and win the tournament, I win the overall thing no matter what anybody else does, and that’s a nice position to be in. Obviously that’s the main objective this week, and I feel like I’m playing well enough to do that.”

McIlroy has a superb record in the event with five top five finishes in six appearances, including a victory in 2012 which sealed his first Race to Dubai title and finishing second behind Henrik Stenson last year.

And the 26-year-old is relishing the extra pressure of having the Race to Dubai on the line, having secured victory with an event to spare 12 months ago.

“If I am the champion at the end of the week, it means that I win the Race to Dubai and that’s all I’m really thinking about,” the four-time major winner added. “It’s always a goal of mine. At the start of the year, I want to be at the top of these lists at the end of the season, whether it’s the Race to Dubai or whether it’s the FedEx Cup.

“The Race to Dubai reflects the way you’ve played through the entire season, and somehow that’s true. I feel like I’ve gained most of my points in the first half of the season with my performances.

“I’ve just sort of held onto that position a little bit. Coming into this week and not having wrapped it up like I had done the previous two times I’ve won, there is more of an intensity.

“It would be a really great way to finish the season, and knowing that I haven’t already got it wrapped up, it focuses the mind and I really want to play well this week.”