ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

Rory McIlroy arrives at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week confronting one of the more peculiar statistics of his career, whilst stablemate Tommy Fleetwood settles into a venue that is now, quite literally, his backyard.

On the eve of the championship, the European Ryder Cup trio of McIlroy, Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton reflected on their deep ties to the UAE and offered differing views on the rival LIV Golf tour’s recent decision to adopt a 72-hole format.

For the top-ranked McIlroy, the tournament represents unfinished business since coming to the UAE as a 17-year-old amateur when he also made his first cut as a pro at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Despite 11 appearances in Abu Dhabi, though, the Northern Irishman has famously never won. He has finished runner-up on four separate occasions and third five times.

“I’d love to get my hands on that Falcon Trophy,” McIlroy admitted. “It was close a few times.”

He feels the tournament’s move from its traditional January slot to the end-of-season run–in may aid his quest: “It was always my first start of the year; and I maybe got off to a slow start... [With this being the penultimate round] It is more like you’re sort of in the run of the season here. So you’re maybe a little sharper, and you know where your game is at.”

Whilst McIlroy is a frequent visitor, Fleetwood is now a resident and has chosen to travel from his Dubai home each day of the tournament.

“Me and my family have chosen this place to live. Tonight I am parked here in Abu Dhabi but I will be making the trip from home on other days,” he confirmed.

The connection to the venue runs deep. A signboard of his academy at the course is put up close to the media centre and practice range, but Fleetwood chose not to publicise the local connection.

However, the Englishman confessed that Yas Links, which took over hosting duties from Abu Dhabi National, presents a unique challenge.

“This course has proven tricky for me... I’ve just never quite mastered this course yet,” he said, contrasting it with the old venue where “I feel very, very comfortable.”

The two-legged play-offs also carry significant weight for the season-long Race to Dubai with 1,500 points on offer and 2,000 in the final event. McIlroy leads the standings with Marco Penge and Tyrrell Hatton chasing him, a fan favourite in the region.

McIlroy cut down his schedule in Europe for this season, but chose to keep the double-header on his itinerary. “I like that I’m having to lock in for these two events,” said McIlroy said.

“I’ve spent the majority of my time in this region in the UAE,” McIlroy said. “I feel like Emiratis are the most welcoming people in the world. I feel like the hospitality, the welcome you get here, everyone wants to make you feel comfortable.”

Hatton, another past champion of this event, albeit on the National course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, is also looking for a strong finish.

“My best finish on The Race to Dubai is fourth... it would be nice to improve on that,” Hatton noted.

Fleetwood also echoed McIlroy’s sentiments and described the UAE as a “big, second home”. Both golfers were also a big draw at the preceding tournament, an inaugural DP World India Championship, which Fleetwood won to vault from 125 to 25th in the rankings.

Even if he had not moved into the top 70, a lesser-known rule allows an exemption to all Ryder Cup members. Having featured at Bethpage in September, Fleetwood said: “But obviously there’s always a personal pride level in trying to make sure that you qualify yourself, and I actually love that I’ve made it to these events [on merit].”