DP World Tour: Rory McIlroy is returning to Wentworth for the first time since 2019 to serve as the tournament’s headlining player, hoping to build on his historic FedExCup victory with success on European soil.
McIlroy overcame a six-stroke deficit in the Tour Championship’s final round to beat world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, to the $18 million prize and become the first FedExCup champion to win the competition three times.
After placing no worse than eighth in each of the four majors this year, the Northern Irishman currently leads the DP World Tour rankings, formerly known as the Race to Dubai. McIlroy is seeking to increase his advantage over the injured Will Zalatoris and US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
Although Rory McIlroy has set his eyes on a “cool double” by finishing the year as the European No. 1 for the first time since 2015, Henrik Stenson is the only player to have previously won the FedExCup and topped the European money list in the same season.
“It’s nice to be back [at Wentworth],” McIlroy said. “Even though I won this tournament in May (2014), I’ve enjoyed it more in September and I think the golf course plays sort of a little better for me.
“I’m on a little run here with Italy [Italian Open] next week and the Dunhill [Alfred Dunhill Links Championship] a little bit after that. It’s nice to get back on European soil and play a few.
“I’ve been close before [to topping the standings on both Tours] and haven’t quite gotten over the line, so that’s something that I want to do.
“I haven’t played as much in Europe as I did before [winning in 2015] that but I’m No 1 in the points list. I have a good chance, so I want to try to make the most of it. I think it would be a really cool double to do.”
Fitzpatrick makes his first appearance in England since his decisive triumph in Brookline in June. The 28-year-old hopes to improve on his already impressive Wentworth record by using his huge length advantage.
“I know that the premium is on tee to green this week,” said Fitzpatrick, who finished seventh in 2020 and never missed the cut in six BMW PGA appearances. “You have to hit your irons well, number one, and driver is second.
“If I can put myself in position off the tee, have less club in than I have had in previous years, that’s obviously an advantage. Greens being soft also makes it a little easier. So it’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out. I definitely don’t feel like I played it this soft, maybe ever before.”
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