The Holywood star, chasing a seventh Harry Vardon Trophy, hopes to take advantage of the absence of second-ranked Marco Penge at Delhi Golf Club to move further clear at the top.
But he’s also excited to add a new tour stop to his schedule as he looks to play more often outside the US.
Rory McIlroy was a prime target for abuse by a hostile crowd during the Ryder Cup in New York (Mike Egerton/PA)
“I would say as time goes on, my schedule will get hopefully more international, because that’s what I’ve enjoyed doing,” said McIlroy, who will play the playoff events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai before finishing a memorable year with the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne from December 4-7.
“I’ve always said that. But I think over the last few years, I’ve enjoyed it even more. I’ve enjoyed the travel.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to play in front of people that I’ve never played in front of before.”
A little-publicised loophole means Shane Lowry will still have the chance to compete in the DP World Tour’s season-ending playoff events, irrespective of his performance in New Delhi.
While it initially appeared that 155th-ranked Ryder Cup hero Lowry would need a top-five finish to make the top 70 who tee it up in next month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship or the 50-man DP World Tour Championship, the Tour has confirmed that all members of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team have been given a place in both playoff events.
The eligibility loophole is good news for 72nd-ranked Ludvig Aberg, 94th-ranked Tommy Fleetwood and 147th-ranked Sepp Straka.
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The measure makes perfect sense for the DP World Tour, which will want to assure the presence of as many Bethpage Black heroes as possible at the season finale.
It also puts into perspective speculation that Jon Rahm or Tyrrell Hatton might have difficulty making the 2027 Ryder Cup team should they lose their arbitration case over unpaid fines accrued for playing LIV Golf events.
Shooting oneself in the foot is never advisable. With Sergio Garcia ineligible for a theoretical Ryder Cup captaincy at Denis O’Brien’s Camiral in Spain in 2031, having initially given up DP World Tour membership in 2022, a rule change cannot be dismissed.
While 38th-ranked Tom McKibbin has no worries, keeping his card is the goal for 148th-ranked Conor Purcell this week, as only the top 115 are guaranteed full playing rights in 2026.
The Dubliner needs a top-two finish to make the top 115 this week, though a top-five finish would give him a stay of execution and a spot in next week’s Genesis Championship in Korea.
Making it to the DP World Tour next year is also a priority for Liam Nolan and Max Kennedy in the penultimate HotelPlanner Tour start of the season in China.
Only the top 45 in the rankings after this week’s Hangzhou Open will make the Rolex Grand Final battle in Mallorca, after which the top 20 in the Road to Mallorca standings will be awarded DP World Tour cards.
Nolan is 37th in the standings and under less pressure than 45th-ranked Kennedy, who sits in the hot seat and could be overtaken this week and left to go the Q-School route.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” Kennedy said. “My goal remains the same this weekend – to go out and win. Whatever happens after that happens. But I’m still focused on getting that status.
“It’d be amazing in my first year to go to Mallorca. It’s obviously a big goal, getting there and giving yourself a chance of getting inside the top 20.
“So first things first is getting there, and then we’ll figure it out after that.”
On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire plays the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea.
