Dubai: Organisers of the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai have welcomed the decision to grant Rory McIlroy an exemption to the Final Series.
Entrants can only qualify to the last four events of the season if they have taken part in 13 or more sanctioned events a year. McIlroy has fallen short of that requirement due to an ankle injury sustained while playing football with friends in July.
At the rate of his current recovery, it is estimated that the world No.1 will only be able to take part in a further three tournaments this season to take his tally to 12. He leads the current Race to Dubai standings on 3,012,000 points despite having only played nine events.
Without jeopardising his career by forcing him to play in more events before being fully healed, the European Tour took the decision on Wednesday to grant the 26-year-old Northern Irishman an exemption.
Organisers of the DP World Tour Championship, where the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and Final Series culminates from November 19 to 22, applauded that decision on Thursday.
“Rory is a fan favourite and sees Dubai as his second home, therefore we are delighted to be welcoming him back to the seventh edition of this tournament,” said Nick Tarratt, Director of the European Tour International Dubai Office.
“He’s played in all six DP World Tour Championships to date, winning in 2012, with five top five finishes and a worst performance of tied for 11th, as well as winning the overall Race to Dubai in 2012 and 2014.”
Yousuf Kazim, chief executive officer at Jumeirah Golf Estates, implied the tournament wouldn’t have been the same without its poster boy.
“Jumeirah Golf Estates has enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Rory McIlroy through his attendance at the DP World Tour Championship. We also recognise the huge benefit he provides for our development and Dubai’s as a whole, given the high levels of media attention on his performance. We’re delighted he will once again participate in the tournament.”
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said on Wednesday: “I have spent the last two weeks examining every possible solution and I have spoken with Rory and his team, as well as independent medical advisers and some prominent players. I am convinced that he could not commit to any further tournament participation without risking further injury and persistent weakness to the ankle in the future.”
