Europe’s Ryder Cup hero failed to make the top 70 available players in the Race to Dubai who are still eligible to win ranking points in the last two events of the season and potentially win the season-long race.

But after getting into the two season-ending Playoff events as a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, 112th-ranked Lowry took advantage at Yas Links.

He made nine birdies and a bogey in his 64 to share the lead with Tommy Fleetwood, South Africa's Richard Sterne, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori and France’s Adrien Saddier as Race to Dubai leader McIlroy opened with a 68 to share 27th.

“It was nice,” said Lowry, who won this title at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2019 but spurned chances for further wins after playing poorly in the final group at Yas Links on Sunday in 2022 and 2023.

He cle

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