Rory McIlroy Addresses Longer Hitter Question at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Rory McIlroy enters this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as a clear favorite, but he finds himself in a rare position—not the longest hitter in his group at the DP World Tour event starting Thursday.
Matchup with Marco Penge
McIlroy will be paired with Marco Penge, an English player known for his powerful drives and three DP World Tour titles in 2025. Their pairing sets the stage for a potential driving distance rivalry.
Driving Distance Stats
- Rory McIlroy’s season driving average: 320.3 yards
- Marco Penge’s season driving average: 319.19 yards
- Nicolai Hojgaard leads all with 321.5 yards average
Effectiveness Off the Tee
While distances are close, Penge excels in efficiency off the tee, ranking second in strokes gained (+1.06), just a fraction behind leader Jon Rahm, who has played fewer events.
“I don’t know,” Penge said Tuesday when asked who would hit longer during the week.
Their pairing marks the first time the season-long Race to Dubai’s top two players compete together, highlighting the anticipation around their driving duel.
Summary
Though McIlroy is favored, Penge’s powerful and effective driving makes their matchup a focal point at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Author's summary: Rory McIlroy faces a tough challenge from Marco Penge, whose driving distance and efficiency make their head-to-head duel one of Abu Dhabi’s top storylines.