Who can win Race to Dubai?

There’s only one event to go before The 2015 Race to Dubai comes to an end this week. Although Rory McIlroy and Danny Willet stand battling in the top spots, seven others are still in the running to walk away with the season-long crown. By Kylie Winkler

Who can win Race to Dubai?

There’s only one event to go before The 2015 Race to Dubai comes to an end this week. Although Rory McIlroy and Danny Willet stand battling in the top spots, seven others are still in the running to walk away with the season-long crown. There are multiple scenarios where Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Byeong-hun An could have the opportunity to seize the European Number One title.

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic and WGC-Cadillac Match Play wins, coupled with several top ten finishes at this year’s first two Majors set him up in the top spot for the final event. In order to win the Race, making it his third Race to Dubai win, he would need to tie or beat Danny Willett’s finish this week and steer clear of any outcomes below…

Danny Willett

Neck-and-neck with McIlroy, Willett has been inside the top two Race to Dubai rankings since winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge. He went on to win the Omega European Masters and end 28^th in China last week. In order to win, he needs to finish 56^th alone or better and beat McIlroy.

Justin Rose

In the last three seasons, Rose has finished in the top three spots in the Race to Dubai. He is in the top three spot yet again after winning a top ten spot in last week’s BMW Masters. As long as Lowry, Oosthuizen, Grace or An don’t win, a second place two-way tie finish or better would allow Rose to walk away with the European Number One title—as long as McIlroy finishes 47^th or worse, Willett 46^th or worse.

Shane Lowry

After his first WGC title at the Bridgestone Invitational in August and a top ten Race to Dubai finish in 2014, Lowry’s success continues as he enters the fourth place spot this week. He needs to win or finish solo second--with McIlroy and Willett worse than eighth and Rose, Oostuizen and Grace not winning--to be European Number One.

Louis Oostuizen

Oostuizen is in Dubai fifth rankings after finishing in the top 30 in all four Majors. The US Open runner-up needs to win or finish solo second to become the European Number One. He needs McIlroy to finish worse than a three-way tie for second and Willett worse than a two-way tie for second, as well as Rose, Lowry and Grace avoiding a win.

Branden Grace

Grace’s win in South Africa and Qatar, and two top five finishes in last four events has put him sixth in the Race to Dubai. A number of outcomes would have to play out in order for him to take home the title. Grace would need to win or finish solo second and have McIlroy and Willett finish worse than third. McIlroy would have to do worse than 42^nd for the week and Willett, worse than 41^st—Oostuizen, Lowry or Rose also cannot win.

Byeong-hun An

Although the rookie’s chances to win the Race to Dubai aren’t high, An would need to win the event and have McIlroy finish worse than 28^th, Willett worse than 27^th and Rose, Lowry and Oostuizen not finish solo second, to win the European Number One title.