Rory McIlroy feels he will have to be at 'absolute best' to win record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title

Rory McIlroy feels he will have to be at his "absolute best" to match Colin Montgomerie's record of eight Race to Dubai titles as he aims to beat Eugenio Chacarra to this year's prize in the UAE.

McIlroy has topped the DP World Tour's Order of Merit for the past four seasons but heads into the 2026 DP World Tour Championship, live on Sky Sports from 7am on Thursday, second in the standings, over 500 points behind former LIV Golf player Chacarra.

The world No 2 hopes his experience at Jumeirah Golf Estates - he has won the season-ending tournament three times and lost in a play-off to Ryder Cup team-mate Matthew Fitzpatrick last year - will give him the edge at an event where 2,000 points go to the winner.

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McIlroy said during his media duties on Tuesday: "The last few years I played well much earlier in the year where I've maybe not had to play at my absolute best to get it done. This week's a little bit different.

"The course has evolved a little bit over the years. It's certainly a lot more penal off the tee this year. The rough is very, very thick. You get a lot of bad lies in the rough.

"I think when you come back to a golf course that you played a lot on and you've done well on, that always gives you a little bit of an advantage starting the week.

"I think there's a little bit there [in having experience of the course]."

McIlroy 'excited' to be in contention

On having the chance to emulate Montgomerie, McIlroy, who finished third at last week's Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, four strokes behind winner Jon Rahm, said: "I'm very excited to be in contention for the eighth. I made some ground up last week, maybe not as much as I wanted, but I felt like it was a step in the right direction.

"It's been a course that's been very good to me over the years, and I have a lot of experience on it and a lot of experience up at the top end of the leaderboard.

"I'm excited to do it all over again, to try to play well enough to give myself a real chance at the weekend."

McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam in 2025 after finally claiming an elusive Masters title - 11 years after his previous major triumph - and then made it back-to-back victories at Augusta National in April of this year.

The 37-year-old told reporters he is "increasingly proud" of his "consistency" and "longevity" over the years as he targets what would be a 45th career title should he win the DP World Tour Championship in the Emirates this week.

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McIlroy added: "I think this will be the 15th or 16th year in a row that I will have finished the year in the top 10 in the world rankings.

"I think maybe an underrated part of careers is that longevity piece.

"I've stayed pretty much injury-free and I've kept working and trying to get better at certain aspects of the game, always tried to see weaknesses or be critical of myself and try to get better at them.

"That approach has worked really well for me and hopefully will continue to work well for me for a few more years yet."

Rahm: Chacarra has a game that works on every course

Rahm, who sits sixth in the standings after his success in Abu Dhabi and has a chance of a second Race to Dubai title, after 2019, said of current leader, and fellow Spaniard, Chacarra: "Not much can be said about his golf game that isn't already known.

"He's a phenomenal ball-striker, has a great ball flight and the type of game that works on every golf course on the planet, stable in any condition.

"If the putter is at an average level, he's always going to have a chance and mentally you can tell he's somebody that wants to be there.

"When it's a Sunday and he gets close, he is not usually a name that falls off. He stays there, puts the pressure on.

"He's brave enough to do that and has a lot of confidence in himself, which you need."

Watch all four rounds of the DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports. Coverage of the opening round gets under way from 7am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event on Thursday. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream contract-free.