Three holes which could prove vital at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as Rory McIlroy eyes sixth DP World Tour crown

Add as preferred source on Google

Rory McIlroy is in pole position to land a sixth DP World Tour Championship title as the UAE swing of the season gets underway at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The Northern Irishman currently leads the Race to Dubai standings after finishing runner-up at the BMW PGA Championship and Irish Open.

McIlroy will take time off after next weekend’s season-ending finale in Dubai before taking on LIV stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in a match on December 17. After the Las Vegas showdown, the countdown to the 2025 PGA season begins when McIlroy intends to shorten his schedule.

Attention now turns to the HSBC, and the four-time major winner is already at Yas Links ahead of Thursday’s opening round. A low-scoring affair usually occurs in Abu Dhabi, and European Ryder Cup veteran Edoardo Molinari believes the seventh hole could be a good scoring opportunity.

HSBC Championship easiest hole – 7th

The seventh at Yas Links is a 591-yard par-five, which provides players with a good chance of birdie. The scoring average sits at 4.529, meaning around half of the field will pick up at least a shot on the hole.

Molinari, speaking to the DP World Tour’s website, believes the second shot is absolutely vital. “The second shot is key on this hole as the entrance of the green is pretty narrow and it is difficult to get up and down if you are short sided, particularly from the right side of the green,” said the Italian.

HSBC Championship hardest hole – 6th

Interestingly, the most challenging hole at Yas Links proceeds the easiest. The 468-yard par-four sixth has proven the trickiest test since the tournament move to the Abu Dhabi venue in 2022. The scoring average currently sits at 0.23 over par, with only 11% of the scores being birdies.

Furthermore, nearly 30% of the scores are bogeys or worse, and Molinari has claimed hitting the fairway is absolutely vital. “Most holes at Yas Links have wide fairways, but this is unquestionably one of the most difficult fairways to find as only 51% of players hit this fairway,” Molinari added.

“The penalty for missing the fairway is very high, too, as the scoring average is 0.5 shots per round higher for players missing the fairway off the tee.”

• READ MORE: How far Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy’s drives will go if new USGA rule emerges in 2028

Hole to watch at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

A finishing par-five always provides excitement. The chance to make an eagle often entices players into more risk, which can sometimes result in bogeys or worse.

Interestingly, the closing hole at Yas Links is one of the few par-fives which players over par on the DP World Tour, and Molinari believes the wind can make the 18th particularly difficult.

“When the wind blows from the north west it is particularly difficult, despite the fairway being very wide (nearly 80 yards wide with just a small bunker in the middle),” the Italian added.

“Since 2022, there have only been 25% of birdies against 21% of bogeys or worse. When the wind does blow, players will face a tricky decision on the tee shot: going left of the bunker is the risky strategy, but they can get home in two shots. Going right means less risk, but they will have to hit a good short iron to make a birdie.”