The 2025 DP World Tour Championship brings the curtain down on another thrilling season of the DP World Tour, with the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates once again providing the grand stage for the Race to Dubai finale.
After a season that has stretched across five continents and 45 events, only the top 50 players in the Race to Dubai standings will tee it up in Dubai. At the top sits Rory McIlroy, who is chasing an incredible seventh Race to Dubai title, further cementing his place as the dominant figure of his generation on the European circuit.
THE COURSE
The Earth Course, designed by Greg Norman, is a familiar but fearsome test. Its wide fairways invite aggression off the tee, but the sprawling bunkers and slick, contoured greens demand precision with every approach. The final stretch, the par-5 18th with its creek guarding the green, has produced some of the DP World Tour’s most dramatic moments, and could once again decide the destination of the season-long crown.
The 7,706-yard layout rewards ball-strikers and creative shot-makers alike, offering plenty of birdie chances but punishing mistakes with brutal accuracy.
THE STORYLINES
McIlroy enters the week with a commanding lead, having completed the Grand Slam at Augusta National and The Irish Open, earlier this year as well as The Players Championship in Spring. Yet the chasing pack remains hungry, and several storylines are bubbling beneath the Dubai sun.
Marco Penge, one of the season’s breakout stars, has been the feel-good story of 2025. With three wins on the DP World Tour in 2025, Hainan Classic, Danish Golf Championship and Open de Espana followed by top two finish at the Genesis Scottish Open, has vaulted the Englishman into second place in the standings.
Close behind are Tyrrell Hatton and Kristoffer Reitan, and desperate to finish the year on a high after near-misses in the majors.
TOURNAMENT CONTENDERS
Here’s a look at some of the leading names and their latest odds from Betway heading into the season finale:
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Rory McIlroy (4.75) – The Race to Dubai leader and defending champion. Hasn’t finished outside the top five here since 2019.
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Tommy Fleetwood (6.50) – The hometown favourite, living in Dubai and thriving on its familiar greens.
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Marco Penge (19.00) – A Cinderella season could yet end with glory. Few have played with more confidence in recent months.
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Ludvig Åberg (13.00) – The young Swede’s length off the tee makes him a dark horse if he can find rhythm with the putter.
CURRENT TOP FIVE IN RACE TO DUBAI RANKINGS
Rory Mcllroy Points 4640.06
Marco Penge 3873.04
Tyrrell Hatton 2919.18
Kristoffer Reitan 2655.65
Rober MacIntryre 2635. 93
THE OUTLOOK
McIlroy remains the man to beat, both statistically and emotionally, as he seeks to extend his record-breaking dominance of the European circuit. But the Race to Dubai finale has a way of throwing up surprises and with form players like Penge and Hatton chasing hard, Sunday’s finish could be another classic on the Earth Course.
For all the latest Race to Dubai odds and updates, visit Betway.com.
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