Rory McIlroy Race to Dubai permutations as world number two eyes huge prize money

The Race to Dubai draws to a dramatic conclusion this weekend

Rory McIlroy (Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)

The Race to Dubai reaches its thrilling climax this week with the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, where Rory McIlroy is pursuing a record-equalling eighth title.

The six-time major champion kept his hopes alive of matching Colin Montgomerie's long-standing record after securing third place in Abu Dhabi last week.

That result sees him sitting in second position in the standings, trailing current leader Eugenio Chacarra by just 533.93 points.

With 2,000 points up for grabs for this week's victor, several players remain in genuine contention to claim the Race to Dubai crown, previously known as the European Tour Order of Merit.

McIlroy is attempting to secure the title for a fifth consecutive year and moved ahead of Patrick Reed last week, while Jon Rahm's triumph last week has handed him an outside shot heading into the season's finale, reports Belfast Live.

To clinch the title, McIlroy must accumulate at least 534 more points than Chacarra while ensuring Reed, Rahm or Aaron Rai don't emerge victorious.

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In practical terms, this means he'll require a top-four finish this week to remain in contention for the crown.

Chacarra stays in the driving seat to capture his maiden Race to Dubai title following three victories on the DP World Tour this season.

The Spaniard can seal the title with a win in Dubai, while third-placed Reed also controls his own fate should he triumph. Reed, trailing Chacarra by 715.17 points, must secure at least a second-place finish to keep his hopes alive.

Should he claim victory, he would also require Chacarra to finish third or lower.

For McIlroy, a runner-up finish would be sufficient, on the condition that Chacarra comes in third or lower and Reed fails to win.

A third-place finish would do the job for McIlroy, provided Chacarra ends up 12th or worse, Reed finishes third or below, and none of Rai, Rahm or Casey Jarvis take the top spot.

Should McIlroy come in fourth, he would need Chacarra to finish 47th or lower in the 50-man field, Reed to place third or worse, and no other player currently sitting in the top nine of the Race to Dubai standings to claim victory.

This week's DP World Tour Championship winner will pocket a whopping $3 million in prize money, and for a select few in the field, McIlroy included, lifting the trophy would also secure them the coveted Race to Dubai title.