McIlroy backs DP World Tour LIV ban and targets eighth Race to Dubai
Rory McIlroy backed the DP World Tour’s decision to bar players who sign up for LIV Golf from competing in its events from next year and said he still wants to win the Race to Dubai, speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on the eve of the DP World India Championship. He voiced support for the tour’s rule change and outlined his aims for the closing stages of the season.
McIlroy said: “The DP World Tour (known earlier as European Tour) are well within their rights to change the rules and regulations. This is the way to protect their business and to make the tour as strong as possible,” at the press conference. In a statement to the BBC, DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings said, “Players need to make a choice” - an ultimatum to those contemplating their future in the rival league, which is now facing financial turmoil. McIlroy added: “The DP World Tour have made a good decision. The golf landscape has now got to the point where guys are going to have to make a decision on what is important to them and what they really want to do.”
McIlroy confirmed his intention to press for the season-long Race to Dubai title and said he is aiming for a record eighth win in that competition. He is currently third in the standings behind Patrick Reed, with only a handful of tournaments remaining. “At this stage of my career, it’s always nice to get to this part of the season and have a chance to win the Race to Dubai. Eugenio (Chacarra) jumped me last week in Spain. Patrick isn’t playing so well, so this is a really good opportunity to cut into that lead this week to try and win my eighth Race to Dubai,” he said.
The 37-year-old also addressed next year’s Ryder Cup and his broader schedule, stressing selection and contribution as priorities. “It’s a Ryder Cup year next year. I want to make that team. I want to contribute. I want to earn more points for Europe. The bulk of our play is in North America (on the PGA Tour), and I still want to do well over there. I have a lot of plates spinning, which is a good thing. No matter where I play, I have always got something to strive for or achieve,” he said.
Six-time major champion Rory McIlroy was described in the press release as one of the modern greats of the game and the report noted that, despite his achievements, his hunger for success remains undiminished. The comments came ahead of his appearance at the DP World India Championship.
With only a handful of events left on the DP World Tour schedule, McIlroy will aim this week at the DP World India Championship to reduce Patrick Reed’s lead and pursue what would be an eighth Race to Dubai title, while also seeking to accumulate Ryder Cup points for next year’s European side.
