McIlroy has an almost unassailable lead after lifting the British
Open and U.S. PGA Championship titles and winning the European
Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, and the
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio.
However, the Northern Irishman could still be caught if Garcia or
Welshman Jamie Donaldson or German Marcel Siem won the last two
tournaments -- this week's Turkish Airlines Open and next week's DP
World Tour Championship in Dubai.
"Maybe Rory deserves to be the Race to Dubai champion...but there's
no doubt it's nice to be a part of it, to still have a little chance
of winning it," the Spaniard told reporters on the eve of the $7
million event in Turkey.
"I think he did something quite extraordinary this season. It's
obviously going to be very difficult, I'm going to need a couple of
really good weeks but we'll try until it's over."
Garcia is third in the Race to Dubai standings, 90,000 euros behind
Donaldson and a whopping three million euros adrift of world number
one McIlroy, who is skipping Turkey before returning to the circuit
for the DP World Tour Championship.
The Welshman has enjoyed a stellar campaign, winning the Czech
Masters, recording six more top-five finishes and securing the point
that ensured Europe retained the Ryder Cup.
"Whatever happens over the next two weeks it's been the best season
of my career," said Donaldson. "It gives me great foundations to
build on for next year.
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"If I did manage to win the Race to Dubai it would be a huge
achievement but I'll have to play incredibly well and win this week
and next to even stand a chance."
Siem, who trails Garcia by 130,000 euros, surged into fourth
position in the money list by winning the lucrative BMW Masters in
Shanghai two weeks ago.
"If Rory plays half decent in Dubai next week nobody has a chance,"
said the German. "I'm just going to go for it and have fun and see
where it takes me.
"There are a lot of Germans out here in Turkey and they will be
rooting for Martin Kaymer and myself."
(Editing by Toby Davis)
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