Rory McIlroy challenges Luke Donald on the Money List in this week’s Hong Kong Open
The rampaging Rory McIlroy is not ready to let go of the coveted Race to Dubai Money Leader title on the European Tour and has renewed his vow to clinch the same in the proceeding closing events on the tour calendar. Luke Donald, the current World Number
One on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), is also leading both the money lists on the European Tour as well as the PGA Tour, FedExCup points table.
In case Donald is able to finish the season being at the top of the both the money lists, it will be the first of its kind incident in the history of the sport.
McIlroy, who soared to stardom with his gigantic US Open victory at the Congressional earlier this year, has done well to live up to his reputation, posting several strong finishes and a lucrative $2-million title in China. He will now be heading into this
week’s Hong Kong Open, and will need at least a runner-up finish and a victory in the Dubai World Championship to clinch the title of the European Tour Money Leader.
McIlroy said, “Luke Donald has won the money title in America and it looks like barring Martin Kaymer or myself doing something very good in the last couple of weeks, he's going to win the money list in Europe as well. But it's not over yet and I am here
to play and to play well.”
Currently poised at Number Two on the OWGR, McIlroy has done exceedingly well for a 22-year-old. His wire-to-wire victory at the US Open was the first of its kind after Bobby Jones. He remained in contention in many of the proceeding events all over the
world and performed brilliantly in last week’s Mission Hills World Cup of Golf in Hainan, China, playing alongside his countryman, Graeme McDowell.
McIlroy added, “I've played very, very well this year. Climbing to number two in the world rankings feels like a big achievement for me, and it would be great to finish off the season well with a good result here.”
McIlroy is trailing Donald by $1.5-million on the Race to Dubai Rankings and is poised as the runner-up for the moment. Considering the fact that Donald will not be participating in the co-sanctioned Hong Kong Open this week, McIlroy has a strong chance
of winning the title on his favourite turf. Young McIlroy remained a regular part of the field and has been touring the Chinese territory for the Junior Faldo Tour since the age of 16.
Meanwhile, three-time major winner, Padraig Harrington is also hoping to win the title this week to climb into the top-60 to qualify for the Dubai event. He has done well in the past few weeks and has been showing remarkable improvement in form and putting.
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