Today's Edition
Dubai (Aletihad)
Paul Waring has revealed his career-changing victory in Abu Dhabi at the DP World Tour play-off has only just sunk in as he aims to secure his PGA Tour card for next season.
The Dubai resident's crown grab at the Yas Links has set him up nicely for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in his adopted city.
The two-stroke margin of victory for Waring has put him fifth in the Race to Dubai rankings, but the focus over the next four days, starting Thursday, will be on Rory McIlroy and how he manages to hold off South Africa's Thriston Lawrence in the final event of the European season.
McIlroy is seeking a fourth title of the season in Dubai, a favourite place in his career, while Waring's victory leaves him in pole position to grab one of the 10 dual membership cards on offer. "The adrenaline has finally come out of me a little bit. It's kind of hit me what I've just achieved," Waring told the European Tour website.
"Very proud of what I've been through and how I coped with it. "But yeah, it's been an absolute roller-coaster these last few days. I had a couple of meetings, a couple of chats with people about potentially what could happen next year and all that sort of thing. It's very exciting.
"I went into the event really thinking about solidifying my place in this week, really. I was 48th on the Order of Merit. Had a solid season, a few fireworks, a few top tens. I've gone from playing on the DP World Tour to potentially trying to figure out now on when to start my hopefully PGA Tour career. I've always been on the cusp of something and now to kick down that door and get in these events, it's massive for me," Waring said.
Meanwhile, it is a two-horse at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings as McIlroy, 35, enjoys a healthy lead of 1,785.02 points over Lawrence before teeing off on the Earth Course, and where a top-10 finish should suffice for the Northern Irishman.
If he lifts the Harry Vardon Trophy for a sixth time, he will match the total of his father's idol Seve Ballesteros, and McIlroy did not downplay what the achievement would mean to him.
"It's always nice for me to start and end the year here in Dubai," he said. "It's typically what I've done most of my career. I've had a lot of success in the region. "You know, winning at the Emirates again this year and winning this tournament a couple of times, and hopefully The Race to Dubai for a sixth time on Sunday if I can just keep playing the way I played last week in Abu Dhabi.
"I can't believe it's 15 years since the first time we came here back in 2009. It's always good to be back and I guess my goal this week is not to have anyone with me on the 18th green; try to win both titles."
McIlroy has recorded a staggering 11 top-five finishes worldwide in the 2024 season, but a fifth Major title still remains elusive since his US PGA title 10 years ago, something that "stings" McIlroy.
"That's something that I have to come to terms with, but at the same time, I've got plenty more opportunities in the future," he said. "But I really just tried to focus on the positives this year... still having three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week. "Did I achieve every goal I set for myself this year? Probably not. But I still consider it a successful season."
