 He has run out of steam a few times in this event since his second win - back in 2015 - finishing ninth, 20th, fourth and sixth in his four subsequent starts.. This time last year McIlroy was leading by two shots with four holes to play. But just over an hour later he was ripping his shirt off in frustration after playing those holes in three over par, while a late birdie blitz from Collin Morikawa carried him to a three shot victory. McIlroy's closing rounds in his last three appearances on this long, par 72 lay-out have been 73-73-74 - not the sort of figures that inspire confidence as such short odds. So we'll look elsewhere for the value. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS Hotshot: Matt Fitzpatrick, 9-1. The US Open champion simply loves this course. He won here for the second time a couple of years ago, and finished joint second behind Collin Morikawa last year. He is a combined 29 under par for those eight rounds, and in addition to his first victory in 2016, he was tied fourth on his first visit the previous year. It was a shock to s){kind=link}
THE curtain comes down on the DP World Tour season this week, with Rory McIlroy starting as a hot favourite to command centre stage in Dubai.
McIlroy tops the Tour rankings, and is expected to finish the year as Europe’s leading money earner for the fourth time, by romping to a third victory in the DP World Tour Championship.
He has already reclaimed the world No 1 spot after winning his last start, the CJ Cup in South Carolina, so it is easy to see why he is a clear market leader.
If he brings his A game, McIlroy has the ability to spread-eagle the fifty-man field. But there are enough ifs and buts to make odds of just 3-1 look far too skinny.
The main concern is whether McIlroy has anything left in the tank, after playing out of his skin for most of the year while also leading the fight against the LIV rebels.