DUBAI — Rory McIlroy is surprised to still be the frontrunner for a third European money list title in four years this week after sitting out this month's BMW Masters in Shanghai.
McIlroy can seal the money list crown, known as the Race to Dubai, by winning the season-ending $8 million DP World Tour Championship, which begins in the emirate on Thursday.
Danny Willett could have overtaken the four-time major winner in the standings, but the Englishman finished joint 28th on Sunday and trails by 1,613 points.
“I didn't think I would still be there,” McIlroy told a news conference.