Rory McIlroy and Marco Penge Face Off at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Rory McIlroy enters this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as the clear favourite, but he will find himself in the unusual position of not being the longest hitter in his group on Thursday at the DP World Tour event.
Driving Distance Comparison
McIlroy will be paired with Marco Penge, an English player who has secured three DP World Tour wins in 2025. The pair are expected to engage in a driving distance contest as they prepare for the tournament.
- Rory McIlroy's average driving distance this season: 320.3 yards
- Marco Penge's average driving distance: 319.19 yards
- Nicolai Hojgaard leads the category with an average of 321.5 yards
Effectiveness Off the Tee
While McIlroy holds a marginal distance advantage, Penge is more effective with his drives. He ranks second in strokes gained off the tee (+1.06), just behind Jon Rahm, who has played fewer tournaments.
This marks the first time the two will play together as the top two in the season-long Race to Dubai standings, setting the stage for an intriguing rivalry.
“I don’t know,” Penge said on Tuesday when asked who will hit it longer.
Author’s summary: Rory McIlroy and Marco Penge, two of the longest hitters this season, prepare to face off in Abu Dhabi, with Penge challenging McIlroy’s usual distance dominance.