The DP World Tour Championship is set for a thrilling finale with the top five players in the Race to Dubai Rankings – Rory McIlroy, Marco Penge, Kristoffer Reitan, Haotong Li, and Tyrrell Hatton – all confirmed for the $10 million event at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth course from November 13–16.
The group will compete for the prestigious Harry Vardon Trophy. McIlroy aims to defend his DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai titles, while Penge and Reitan are coming off career-defining seasons.
English golfer Penge, 27, has had a breakout year, just a year after narrowly retaining his Tour card with a 110th-place finish.
His first victory at the Hainan Classic, a second-place tie at the Genesis Scottish Open, and another win at the Danish Golf Championship have pushed him to second in the Race to Dubai standings, securing the Closing Swing title and confirming his debut in the season-ending Play-Offs.
Penge’s Dream Season
“It’s been an amazing season for me,” said Penge. “To go from barely keeping my card last year to winning twice and now being near the top of the Race to Dubai is a dream come true.
“Competing for the Harry Vardon Trophy in Dubai is incredibly special, and I’m eager to finish the season on such a grand stage.”
Norwegian Reitan has also seen a rapid rise. The 27-year-old, who finished seventh on last season’s HotelPlanner Tour’s Road to Mallorca Rankings, became just the second Norwegian winner on the DP World Tour by claiming the Soudal Open earlier this year. His four additional top-five finishes have propelled him to third in the Rankings ahead of his debut at the DP World Tour Championship.
“I’m thrilled to end the season in Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship,” said Reitan. “Every player aspires to be in this tournament – it signifies a successful year, and I hope to finish the season strongly.”
Li Thrives Under Pressure
Li and Hatton, ranked fourth and fifth respectively, have both proven their skills in 2025. Li made a decisive 15-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, marking his fourth DP World Tour title, three years after his last victory at the 2022 BMW International Open.
Hatton, meanwhile, won his eighth DP World Tour title and a record-tying fifth Rolex Series crown earlier this year, defeating Daniel Hillier in a thrilling final round at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. His performance also earned him automatic qualification for a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup under captain Luke Donald.
“I’m excited to return to the DP World Tour Championship,” said Li, who is appearing in the season-ending Rolex Series event for the first time since 2022. “I have wonderful memories of Dubai from my 2018 win nearby, and I hope to create more in November.”
Ryder Cup star Hatton, now part of the LIV Golf League, added: “I started the year strong in Dubai, and I’m really looking forward to returning to conclude the season at one of the Tour’s best events.”
A week before the DP World Tour Championship concludes the season, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship starts the Play-Offs, with the top 70 players following the Back 9 events gathering at Yas Links. At the end of the fourth Rolex Series event of the year, the top 50 players will compete at the DP World Tour Championship, where the Race to Dubai winner will be decided.
