Prize Money at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Following 40 events across five continents and 27 countries, including five Global Swings and the Back 9, the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai entered its Play-Offs phase. The opening tournament of this stage was the $9 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, held at Yas Links, serving as a major highlight on the 2025 DP World Tour calendar.
The competition is part of the season-long Race to Dubai, which concludes on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, UAE. The event gathered the top contenders battling for ranking points and the prestigious Harry Vardon Trophy.
Leaderboard and Contenders
Race to Dubai Rankings leader Rory McIlroy arrived in Abu Dhabi aiming for his seventh Harry Vardon Trophy and a remarkable fourth consecutive title. His closest rival, Marco Penge, with three wins this season, faced a 441.32-point gap—challenging but not insurmountable given the increased Play-Off points at stake.
“McIlroy holds 4,132.56 points, but consecutive victories in the Play-Offs could yield up to 3,500.00 points, while even two last-place finishes would still bring 77.600.”
Elite Field
All top 18 players in the Race to Dubai Rankings and 66 of the top 70 competed in Abu Dhabi, making it one of the most competitive lineups of the season. McIlroy, with nine top-three finishes in 13 appearances at this event, once again chased the title that had long eluded him.
Summary
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship opened the DP World Tour Play-Offs, showcasing world-class talent and intense competition as McIlroy pursued another historic milestone on the Race to Dubai.
Author’s summary: The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship marked the beginning of the DP World Tour Play-Offs, where Rory McIlroy led a star-studded field chasing glory in the 2025 Race to Dubai.