McIlroy's World Tour to include Abu Dhabi Championship as DP World Tour event celebrates 20 years

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There are very few events which Rory McIlroy has played in consistently during his 18-year professional career, and not won once, but Abu Dhabi, remarkably is one of those. The Masters Champion has finished in the top-3 on an incredible 9 occasions, including being runner-up four times, without winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The championship, to be played at Yas Links, will be part of a fantastic global stretch of golf from the World Number 2, which will include playing in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England, India, United Arab Emirates and Australia.

In a press release His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, stated: “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.

“Since its inception, the Championship has played a pivotal role in supporting sports tourism and generating tangible economic benefits for the region. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the DP World Tour in delivering another outstanding event befitting the prestige of the Rolex Series.

“Hosting global sporting events reflects Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s commitment to enhancing both the local and international sports landscape. These events highlight the UAE’s proven capabilities in organising large-scale tournaments and reinforce our reputation as a trusted destination for world-class sports competitions.”

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.”