Rory McIlroy sees no risk playing in Abu Dhabi - ESPN

Rory McIlroy has downplayed safety concerns about competing at the Abu Dhabi Championship this week amid the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East that have impacted the sports calendar in the region.

The DP World Tour decided to stick to the upcoming schedule of Abu Dhabi and Dubai amid increased security concerns in the Middle East. Last month saw deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia, which shares a border with the UAE.

«I don't think I would ever feel unsafe,» McIlroy said Wednesday, a day before the Abu Dhabi Championship begins. «You know, even if something were to happen, like I still wouldn't feel unsafe.

»You know, the UAE has great defense systems. Yeah, I think the only thing would be that if they closed the airspace and you were stuck here for a period of time, like people were at the start of year, but like I would still feel safe. I wouldn't feel like I would be in any danger."

McIlroy said he has remained in close contact with the tour about the security situation in the UAE.

«If everyone deems that it's safe to be here, then who am I to say otherwise?» the No. 2-ranked Northern Irishman said. «You know, this is important to me. I want to play well. I want to end my year well. I wanted to have a chance to win another Race to Dubai. I don't feel like there's any risk coming here, but if I did feel like there was a risk, I feel like the reward is worth it.»

The Abu Dhabi Championship is the first of lucrative, back-to-back season-ending events in the United Arab Emirates over the next two weeks that will determine who wins the yearlong Race to Dubai title, which crowns the No. 1 player on the European tour.

McIlroy is third in the standings, behind Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed, as he chases a record-tying