Rory McIlroy is a five-time major winner and a seven-time winner of the Race to Dubai crown. Getty Images
Rory McIlroy is a five-time major winner and a seven-time winner of the Race to Dubai crown. Getty Images
Rory McIlroy is a five-time major winner and a seven-time winner of the Race to Dubai crown. Getty Images
Rory McIlroy is a five-time major winner and a seven-time winner of the Race to Dubai crown. Getty Images

Masters champion Rory McIlroy to return to Abu Dhabi for HSBC Championship


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Masters winner Rory McIlroy will return to Yas Links for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in November as he bids to win a seventh Race to Dubai Rankings crown.

The five-time major winner leads the Race to Dubai, having already secured his place in the field for the first event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs thanks to that thrilling victory at Augusta in April, in addition to a fourth-place finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the first Rolex Series event of the season.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from November 6-9 is the first event of the DP World Tour’s end-of-season showpiece, leading straight into the DP World Tour Championship, where the Race to Dubai champion will be crowned.

The top 70 available players at the conclusion of the 'Back 9' events will gather in Abu Dhabi for the fourth Rolex Series event of the year as the season comes to a close.

McIlroy said: “I love ending the season in the Middle East and I’m excited to return to Abu Dhabi again for the first of two big events later this year.

“I’ve started the year well and I’ve got a good record at Yas Links, so hopefully I can continue doing what I’m doing and give myself a chance of finishing the season strongly and having a shot of getting another Race to Dubai under my belt.”

The Northern Irishman became the first European to win a career Grand Slam earlier this year when he added a Green Jacket to his four other major victories: the 2011 US Open, the US PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and The Open in 2014.

Aref Hamad Al Awani, general secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “Abu Dhabi has firmly established itself as a world-class golfing destination by hosting internationally recognised tournaments that attract elite players from around the globe. We are proud to welcome Rory McIlroy - one of the sport’s greatest talents - to the 2025 edition.

General admission tickets are free for the first two days of the event, with prices starting at just Dh50 for the final two days, a 50% discount during the exclusive early bird access window.

For more ticket information, visit www.tickets.europeantour.com.

World Sevens Series standing after Dubai

1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Fiji
5. Australia
6. Samoa
7. Kenya
8. Scotland
9. France
10. Spain
11. Argentina
12. Canada
13. Wales
14. Uganda
15. United States
16. Russia

You may remember …

Robbie Keane (Atletico de Kolkata) The Irish striker is, along with his former Spurs teammate Dimitar Berbatov, the headline figure in this season’s ISL, having joined defending champions ATK. His grand entrance after arrival from Major League Soccer in the US will be delayed by three games, though, due to a knee injury.

Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters) Word has it that Rene Meulensteen, the Kerala manager, plans to deploy his Bulgarian star in central midfield. The idea of Berbatov as an all-action, box-to-box midfielder, might jar with Spurs and Manchester United supporters, who more likely recall an always-languid, often-lazy striker.

Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.

Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.

Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.

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UAE cricketers abroad

Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.

Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.

Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.

Major honours

ARSENAL

  • FA Cup - 2005

BARCELONA

  • La Liga - 2013
  • Copa del Rey - 2012
  • Fifa Club World Cup - 2011

CHELSEA

  • Premier League - 2015, 2017
  • FA Cup - 2018
  • League Cup - 2015

SPAIN

  • World Cup - 2010
  • European Championship - 2008, 2012
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Last 10 NBA champions

2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

NBA Finals so far

(Toronto lead 3-1 in best-of-seven series_

Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109

Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109

Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123

Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105

Updated: June 03, 2025, 7:20 AM