Rory McIlroy is now focused on closing the gap with Patrick Reed for the Race to Dubai title after a narrow defeat at the BMW PGA Championship. The Northern Irishman finished in a four-way tie for second place at Wentworth, two strokes behind winner JJ Spaun, marking his fourth runner-up finish at the DP World Tour’s flagship event since his 2014 victory.
McIlroy acknowledged that putting issues cost him the win during the final round. He stated that despite hitting the ball well, he struggled to see the lines on the greens. ‘I had my chances out there! I felt like I hit good putts but… I was just not seeing the lines that well,’ McIlroy told Sky Sports, noting that missed putts on multiple holes prevented a different outcome.
The result moved McIlroy within 308 points of Reed in the season-long standings, with McIlroy earning 532 Race to Dubai points from the event. Reed, who withdrew from the tournament earlier in the week due to injury, has expressed anticipation for a strong battle with McIlroy during the season-ending playoffs.
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley analyzed McIlroy’s performance, suggesting the world No. 2 underperformed on the greens despite maintaining a high level of play elsewhere. ‘It was surprising for a guy who has really improved his putting over the past couple of years… he seemed to miss putt after putt,’ McGinley noted.
McIlroy remains determined to secure an eighth Race to Dubai title, which would tie him with Colin Montgomerie for the all-time record. The next step in his schedule is the DP World India Championship, scheduled for October 15-18, before competing in the Abu Dhabi Championship and the DP World Tour Championship in November.
Colin Montgomerie’s record stands for a reason. Tying it would be historic, but the pressure is immense now.
JJ Spaun winning is great for the tour, but I just want to see Rory break that duck at Wentworth this time!
Thirty-eight points behind with the playoffs starting soon? That gap feels huge for someone with Rory’s finishing ability.
Putt badly, win badly. Rory’s putting has always been his Achilles heel when it matters most.