Rory McIlroy believes he needs at least one win from his next three events to become only the second man after Henrik Stenson to win the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same season.
British Open champion Stenson achieved the feat in 2013 and McIlroy can follow in the footsteps of his Ryder Cup team-mate after winning the FedEx Cup – and $10million bonus – for the first time in September.
The world number three is looking to win the Race to Dubai for the third year in succession and fourth time in the last five years, but is more than a million points behind US Masters champion Danny Willett, who has a lead of more than 400,000 points over Stenson.
All three are part of the star-studded field for this week's WGC-HSBC Champions event in China, which features 40 of the world's top 50 and a first prize of €1.4 million – with one euro equalling one Race to Dubai point.
“It would be great to get the double,” McIlroy said at the tournament’s launch event. “I’m hoping that’s what’s going to happen.
“I’ve got three tournaments left to try to do that. I’ve got a lot of ground to make up as well. Danny has had a great season, so has Henrik, so I know what I need to do in the last three weeks.
“I probably need at least one win, hopefully two, and hopefully those boys not to play as good as they have been. I know I’ve got a lot to do but hopefully I can play well enough and at least give myself a chance.”
McIlroy has not played competitively since winning three points from five matches in Europe's Ryder Cup defeat at Hazeltine and admits he could be somewhat rusty when he tees off alongside Bubba Watson and Adam Scott to today.
However, the 27-year-old had never finished outside the top six at Sheshan International until his share of 11th place last year, when he had to miss the pre-tournament pro-am due to food poisoning.
“After what happened in the States with the FedEx Cup and then at the Ryder Cup, I really wanted to regroup and sort of recharge the batteries a little bit. It was a long stretch of golf,” McIlroy added.
“I wanted to come into these weeks feeling fresh and feeling ready to go and hopefully play some good golf and give myself a chance to win another Race to Dubai.
“I’m sure there will be a little bit of rust in there that I will need to work off but, the last few times I’ve played, I’ve played very well and there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to keep up that run of form this week and hopefully to the end of the season.”
Equipment manufacturer
McIlroy will use a TaylorMade driver and fairway woods in pursuit of a third World Golf Championships title after his equipment manufacturer
Nike
announced in August they would “transition out” of making clubs and balls.
“I know Tiger’s won 18 of these things [WGC events]. It would be nice to try and move up that list a little bit, too,” the four-time Major winner added.
"It's my sixth time in Shanghai and I've played well here but not quite well enough to win. Hopefully I can change that this week.
“I feel like I’m playing well enough and that I’ve showed enough good form around this golf course in the past to be confident that I can give myself a chance this week.”
