Rory McIlroy has won seven times in Dubai and is looking forward to returning to the Middle East in November as he chases a record seventh Race To Dubai title

Rory McIlroy celebrates his win in 2024(Image: Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy has a packed schedule in the coming weeks, but he’s already anticipating his return to a “special place” that has witnessed some of his greatest triumphs.

The world No.2 will be swinging into action at this week’s Irish Open, followed by the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth just a week later. Then there’s the not-so-small matter of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where the Europeans are eager to defend their title won in Rome two years prior.

McIlroy didn’t hold back on expressing his thoughts about the possibility of Keegan Bradley choosing himself to play for the Americans, which prompted a warning from the captain.

However, McIlroy is already setting his sights on securing his seventh Race To Dubai title and inching closer to all-time record holder Colin Montgomerie. He’ll be teeing off at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai come November, a location that has gifted him seven unforgettable victories.

“Dubai has always been a special place for me,” McIlroy shared. “Winning both the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai last year was an incredible way to finish the season. To equal Seve’s record made it even more special.

“I’ve played some great golf this year and I’m looking forward to finishing strong again in front of the fans at Jumeirah Golf Estates.”

McIlroy, a four-time DP World Tour Championships winner and three-time Dubai Desert Classics victor, has always been vocal about his love for golf in the United Arab Emirates.

At 36, he’s on the hunt for his fourth consecutive Race To Dubai title and seventh overall, which would put him just one shy of Montgomerie in the record books.

Despite participating in 14 fewer counting events, the Northern Irishman maintains a significant lead at the top of the rankings, over 400 points ahead of Marco Penge.

Rory McIlroy has clinched the AGW Golf Writers Trophy for a record fifth time

Even though the PGA Tour season has concluded, McIlroy holds the DP World Tour dear to his heart and is eager to return to the European circuit at The K Club this week.

“The season is not over for me. I’ve still got a lot of golf coming up. I refuse to call this the end of the season,” he declared after last month’s Tour Championship at East Lake.

“Yeah, it means a lot [to return to Europe]. Those are two big weeks for me to try to extend my lead in the Race to Dubai. That’s become a pretty important thing for me. I’m chasing a little bit of history there. I want to put my head down and play well those couple weeks.

“They’re sort of like two home tournaments for me, Ireland being my national open, and then we live pretty much on the course at Wentworth. Big couple weeks to try to play well but also sharpen up different aspects of the game going into the Ryder Cup.”