Rory McIlroy puts bid for $1.25m Race To Dubai prize on hold and pulls out of Turkish Airlines Open over security fears
World No2 Rory McIlroy admits he may have sacrificed his chances of winning the Race To Dubai by withdrawing from this week’s Turkish Airlines Open because of security concerns.
McIlroy decided to pull out of the event in Antalya on Saturday, four days after a car bomb injured several people in the city, which was also the subject of a rocket attack by militants earlier this month.
Open champion Henrik Stenson moved top of the Race To Dubai by finishing tied for second at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Sunday but is not due to play this week, leaving the way clear for Masters winner Danny Willett to reclaim top spot – and leave McIlroy trailing in the battle for the $1.25m top prize – in Turkey.
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“I guess it’s out of my hands. I took the decision not to go to Turkey and those boys can battle it out,” said the Northern Irishman.
“If I have somewhat of a chance going into Dubai [the European Tour finale] that’s great. But if not, I think over the course of the season they have had big wins and played well. They’re two Major champions, so I’m okay with that.”
McIlroy gave move a lot of thought
McIlroy, who also withdrew from the Rio 2016 Olympics amid concerns over the Zika virus, said the decision to skip the tournament in Turkey had been “weighing on my mind”.
He added: “I slept a lot better knowing that I’d made a decision. I gave it a lot of thought, basically all week. The fact that I have won the FedEx Cup this year and that I have won the Race To Dubai before made the decision a little bit easier.”
Matsuyama makes history in China
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama coasted to victory in Shanghai to become the first Asian winner of a WGC event.
The 24-year-old, who is set to rise to a career-high sixth in the world rankings, carded a final round of 66 to finish 23 under par, seven shots clear of Stenson and American Daniel Berger.
McIlroy was a further shot adrift, tied with Bill Haas.