Rory McIlroy Doesn't Care About Race to Dubai Bonus Money, Would Gladly Hand it Over

Rory McIlroy went on the record regarding Danny Willett’s comments about the Race to Dubai bonus money of £2.1 million. McIlroy was given a special exemption by the European Tour that has allowed him to continue to play in the Race to Dubai. Willett, who has played in 22 European Tour events this season to McIlroy’s 11, sort of hinted that he wasn’t happy that the rules were bent for McIlroy to continue to play.

"“If Rory wins more money than anyone else playing less events, then that’s just good golf,” Willett said. “There’s still rules there to kind of abide by, otherwise they wouldn’t make rules. If rules were allowed to be broken all the time, then there’s no point in setting them in the first place. “But in that case it’s a very difficult one to get correct and it was the first decision Keith had to make in becoming the chief executive of the Tour. I think he made the correct decision.”"

McIlroy responded by saying he doesn’t want the money, only the trophy.

"“That [allowing me to play] was the decision that the European Tour came to and obviously it’s great for me that I’m able to be here and compete this week,” McIlroy told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s not about the bonus pool [money]; it’s just about being able to compete here and play and try to win the Race to Dubai again. I’d gladly take the trophy and they can keep the money and do whatever they want with it. It’s more about trying to win the Race to Dubai again.”"

Willett has been McIlroy’s biggest competition this season on the European Tour; he currently has two wins and is second in the Race to Dubai standings. McIlroy has also won two events and is ranked first in the standings.

The final event starts Thursday at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

[ESPN]