Rory McIlroy Seeks His First Victory in Abu Dhabi
Rory McIlroy’s history in Abu Dhabi has been remarkably steady, yet one milestone continues to elude him. Despite an exceptional year that surpassed even his own expectations, the Northern Irish golf star still has a few goals left to accomplish.
Chasing More Glory
At 36, McIlroy is aiming to capture his seventh Race to Dubai crown, a feat that would bring him within one title of Colin Montgomerie’s all-time record. Before that, however, he has another unfinished piece of business: a victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Near Misses in Abu Dhabi
Across 11 appearances in the tournament, McIlroy has yet to lift the trophy. He has finished as runner-up four times and placed third—alone or tied—on five other occasions. The narrowest defeats came in 2012, 2014, and 2015, when he missed out by just one shot.
“Robert Rock, Pablo Larrazabal, and Gary Stal each claimed victory over McIlroy by the slimmest of margins,”
Stal’s triumph in 2015 remains one of the most surprising outcomes, as the Frenchman overcame an eight-shot deficit to Martin Kaymer after 54 holes, leaving a field packed with current and future Ryder Cup players stunned.
Looking Ahead
McIlroy enters this week’s championship determined to complete his Abu Dhabi story with a long-awaited win, a result that would perfectly crown one of the strongest years of his career.
Author’s Summary
Rory McIlroy stands on the verge of completing his Abu Dhabi journey, aiming for a win that would match his stellar 2025 season and bring him closer to golfing history.