For Rory McIlroy to be denied one other seasonlong Race to Dubai title, Marco Penge goes to have to drag off the largest win but of his breakthrough yr on the European tour.
There’s an issue, although. Penge — McIlroy’s major rival within the occasion — was consigned to his mattress early this week due to illness and has barely had an opportunity to see the Earth Course.
As a substitute, Penge revealed Wednesday that he has resorted to watching McIlroy on YouTube to realize an perception into what he’ll have to provide on the World Tour Championship this week.
“I used to be really mendacity in mattress yesterday watching Rory play all 4 rounds from final yr on YouTube,” Penge mentioned. “So I felt like I had a reasonably good concept earlier than I acquired right here at this time.
“I used to be seeing what holes he hits driver off, and so forth. And I will get a good suggestion tomorrow after I watch him play as nicely.”
Certainly, the English golfer might be paired with McIlroy for the primary two rounds of the season-ending occasion in Dubai, as he was on the Abu Dhabi Championship final week.
“I am simply approaching the week, watching Rory play golf, taking advantage of that have. Studying from him like I did final week within the first two rounds. He is acquired extra expertise than me, and he is world No. 2 proper now,” Penge mentioned.
“I will be simply be in his shadow, I suppose, and attempting to comply with him across the golf course,” he added, laughing.
Penge is second within the Race to Dubai standings, round 767 factors behind McIlroy. To overtake McIlroy, Penge — a three-time winner on the tour this yr — both must win and hope McIlroy finishes worse than second alone, or end in a tie for second and for the Northern Irishman to be down the leaderboard.
After being away from the course Monday and Tuesday, Penge not less than acquired to play 9 holes Wednesday morning.
“It is fairly new to me,” Penge mentioned. “It is nonetheless a golf course, fairways and greens, and that is the plan, I suppose. You possibly can see it. Simply acquired to hit it straight.”
