Rory McIlroy surprised to still be leading the Race to Dubai

Rory McIlroy admits he hadn’t expected to still be top of the Race to Dubai standings heading in to this week’s European Tour season finale.

The world No 3 was the only player in the top 15 of the standings not to feature at last week's BMW Masters in Shanghai, presenting nearest challenger Danny Willett and those below him the chance to take the outright advantage.

However, Willett finished the week in a tie for 28th after a final-round 70, leaving him just 1,613 points behind McIlroy heading to Dubai.

The Northern Irishman has posted top five finishes in all but one of his six visits to this week's DP World Tour Championship, with the 2012 and 2014 Race to Dubai champion now feeling in a good position to claim a third title in four seasons.

"I honestly didn't expect to be leading going in to this week," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "I thought Danny (Willett) and obviously a few of the other guys had a chance to overtake me.

"Luckily it didn't quite work out like that, so it's nice to know this week is in my hands. If I win the tournament then I win the overall thing, which is obviously the main objective.

"I've played well here before and had a win here and hopefully all those good memories will stack up in my favour this week.

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"It would be very special to win it three out of four years. It would cap off the year nicely for me considering it hasn't been the year that I wanted, but if I was still able to win the Race to Dubai then it's still a good year."

A total of seven players can still win the Race to Dubai, although Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace need to finish second or better, while Byeong Hun An has to win.

McIlroy secured victory with a tournament to spare 12 months ago, but has been unable to build as much of a commanding lead this time around in an injury-affected season.

Two early-season wins have benefited McIlroy, who missed most of the summer through injury, with the 26-year-old now relishing the prospect of a tense finish to the year.

"The Race to Dubai reflects the way you've played through the entire season, and somehow that's true," McIlroy told a pre-tournament press conference. "I feel like I've gained most of my points in the first half of the season with my performances.

"I've just sort of held onto that position a little bit. Coming into this week and not having wrapped it up like I had done the previous two times I've won, there is more of an intensity.

"It would be a really great way to finish the season, and knowing that I haven't already got it wrapped up, it focuses the mind and I really want to play well this week."

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