Rory McIlroy Responds to Longest Hitter Debate at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Rory McIlroy enters this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as the clear favorite, but he faces an unusual situation—not being the longest hitter in his group on Thursday at the DP World Tour event.
Rivalry with Marco Penge
McIlroy will be paired with Marco Penge, an English player who has won three DP World Tour titles in 2025 and is known for his powerful driving. The pair are expected to engage in a driving contest, a point of interest as they prepare for the tournament.
Driving Distance Statistics
- Rory McIlroy leads with an average driving distance of 320.3 yards.
- Marco Penge follows closely with 319.19 yards.
- Nicolai Hojgaard actually tops the list with a 321.5-yard average.
Effectiveness of Long Drives
The most notable difference between McIlroy and Penge lies in the effectiveness of their drives. Penge ranks second in strokes gained off the tee (+1.06), trailing the leader, Jon Rahm, by only 0.01 points despite Rahm playing fewer tournaments.
Insights on Their Competition
“I don’t know,” Penge said when asked on Tuesday about who will hit it longer.
The two players will go head-to-head for the first time as the top contenders in the season-long Race to Dubai standings, adding extra excitement to their matchup.
Author's Summary
Rory McIlroy, while the favorite at Abu Dhabi, faces a tight driving competition with Marco Penge, highlighting a new dynamic in their DP World Tour rivalry.