McIlroy Chases Record, Reed Leads Race to Dubai in New Delhi

By Staff Writer

October 14, 2026

3 min read

Ed Balaun (supergolfdude) / CC BY-SA via flickr

Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed, rivals for the better part of a decade, are sharing a fairway this week at the DP World India Championship in New Delhi, each chasing points in the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai as the season's finish line comes into view.

Who leads the Race to Dubai standings?

Reed holds the top spot entering the New Delhi event with 3,423.6 points, ahead of Eugenio Chacarra at 3,257.9 and McIlroy at 3,115.9. Casey Jarvis and Aaron Rai round out the top five. The two leaders and McIlroy will keep swapping positions through the fall before the standings are finalized at the DP World Tour's playoff events.

Rank	Player	Points
1	Patrick Reed	3,423.6
2	Eugenio Chacarra	3,257.9
3	Rory McIlroy	3,115.9
4	Casey Jarvis	2,654.0
5	Aaron Rai	2,408.5

What's at stake for each player?

McIlroy has won the Race to Dubai four years running and seven times overall, one title short of Colin Montgomerie's record of eight. Reed, who left LIV Golf and served a PGA Tour suspension before rebuilding his season on the DP World Tour, is trying to become just the second American to win the title, after Collin Morikawa. A decade of hard feelings hasn't stopped either man from calling the other a champion this season.

A decade of hard feelings hasn't stopped either man from calling the other a champion this season.

How did this rivalry reach New Delhi?

McIlroy and Reed met in Ryder Cup singles in 2016 and the final group at the 2018 Masters, and took opposite sides of the LIV Golf-PGA Tour split. McIlroy backed the newly created DP World India Championship, while Reed's PGA Tour suspension pushed him onto the DP World Tour, where he started winning. The two shared a smile and a handshake at a photo op Tuesday at Delhi Golf Club. Reed has said facing McIlroy is "always fun," a chance to test himself against a proven champion.

What comes next for Reed in 2027?

Reed's PGA Tour suspension has ended, and he's set to take one of the DP World Tour's 10 reciprocal cards onto the PGA Tour in 2027, where he and McIlroy will again be colleagues. He's also racing Chacarra and the rest of the non-PGA Tour members for a spot in next year's Signature events, settled alongside the Race to Dubai title next month at the DP World Tour's playoffs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Key takeaways

Patrick Reed leads the Race to Dubai with 3,423.6 points, ahead of Eugenio Chacarra (3,257.9) and Rory McIlroy (3,115.9).
McIlroy has won the Race to Dubai seven times, one shy of Colin Montgomerie's record of eight titles.
Reed is chasing a title that would make him just the second American winner, after Collin Morikawa.
Reed's PGA Tour suspension is over; he'll use one of the DP World Tour's 10 reciprocal cards to play the PGA Tour in 2027.
The Race to Dubai and the race for 2027 Signature event spots are both decided next month at the DP World Tour's playoffs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Frequently asked questions

What is the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai?

It's the tour's season-long points race, with the leader after the fall playoff events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai crowned the tour's top performer for the year.

Has Rory McIlroy ever broken the Race to Dubai record?

Not yet. His seven titles, including the last four in a row, still leave him one behind Colin Montgomerie's record of eight.

Why does Patrick Reed's 2027 status matter?

Reed's PGA Tour suspension is over, and his DP World Tour results have already earned him one of the tour's 10 reciprocal cards for 2027 PGA Tour membership.