PURPLE PATCH: Rory McIlroy heads a strong field teeing it up in Abu Dhabi, with the World No.6 boasting a great record at this tournament.
Although born and bred in Northern Ireland,Ā few could perhaps argue against Rory McIlroy calling Abu Dhabi his second home.
As the 31-year-old gets ready to make his first start of 2021 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, weāve looked at his astonishing record at the desert layout.
Since his first appearance in 2008, Rory has appeared a further nine times at the tournament and to say heās fallen in love with it is a huge understatement.
Bar an uncharacteristic missed cut in 2013, heās only failed to finish outside of theĀ top 10Ā once and his impressive string of results donāt end there.
Heās come third in three separate outings (2010, 2016, 2018), while heās also been theĀ runner-upĀ four timesĀ (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015).
Such impressive form means heās 134 under par at the tournament in his career and has accrued well over Ā£1.5m in prize money.
And in all honesty, itās pretty hard to fathom how he hasnāt won the tournament yet.
Unsurprisingly heās theĀ 5/1Ā favourite this time around, and few would be surprised if he finally got his name on the trophy come Sunday.
