Rory McIlroy embracing role of hunter with Race to Dubai title in sight

Rory McIlroy’s swing thoughts and execution remain a work in progress, so much so that his coach Michael Bannon is on-site with him at this week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. But the bigger picture rarely changes, with the Masters champion and world number two reaching the tail end of the DP World Tour season in the mix for another Harry Vardon Trophy, awarded to the player who tops the order of merit.

This time, what is different is that McIlroy is cast in the role of hunter, rather than the hunted, in his quest to equal Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight. With just the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links and next week’s DP World Tour Championship finale in Dubai, the Northern Irishman is third behind leader Eugenio Chacarra of Spain and American Patrick Reed.