As the International Swing pauses for a one-week break, we take a look at some of the key numbers from the first five events of 2024 on the Race to Dubai in the Middle East.
1
Rikuya Hoshino claimed his first DP World Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The Japanese was the only first-time winner.
Rory McIlroy sits atop the International Swing Rankings - more than 465 points ahead of nearest rival Rasmus Højgaard - after beginning the year by following up a runner-up finish in the Dubai Invitational with victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
2
There are two European Challenge Tour graduates in the top 10 of the International Swing standings. Ugo Coussaud sits ninth, while Jesper Svensson is tenth after both registered runner-up finishes.
3
The number of top 10s achieved by Rasmus Højgaard - the most of any player during the International Swing.
4
Rory McIlroy won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for a record fourth time, breaking a tie with South African great Ernie Els as the Northern Irishman successfully defended his title at Emirates Golf Club.
The number of holes-in-one during the five-week stretch. After Luke Donald achieved a moment of perfection at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, fellow Ryder Cup-winning Captain Thomas Bjørn followed suit during the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. There were then a pair of aces by Marcus Armitage and Guxin Chen during the first round of the Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies.
5
The number of different winners (Tommy Fleetwood, McIlroy, Thorbjørn Olesen, Dylan Frittelli and Hoshino) to emerge across the five events.
6
Olesen claimed the biggest winning margin, finishing six shots clear of countryman Rasmus Højgaard in the Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club.
8
The eighth at Dubai Creek Resort proved the hardest hole across the five events. The 223-yard par three averaged 3.37 strokes, with 158 pars, 11 birdies, 46 bogeys and 25 double bogeys or worse during the four days of competition.
10
The number of shots made by up McIlroy over the final 36 holes at the Dubai Desert Classic, the most by any winner so far this season.
22
The number of players to feature in all five Middle East-based events.
62
The lowest round recorded during the five-event stretch in the Middle East. After McIlroy went nine-under-par over Dubai Creek Resort during the Dubai Invitational, Callum Shinkwin and Olesen hit ten under totals of 62 at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship as the latter won at Al Hamra Golf Club.
67
The lowest final round score by a winner. Fleetwood finished birdie-birdie to claim a one-shot victory at the Dubai Invitational, while 2018 Ryder Cup teammate Olesen cruised to a convincing six-shot success in Ras Al Khaimah by carding the same total.
172
Dylan Frittelli's return to the DP World Tour's winner's circle at the Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies was the 172nd win by players from South Africa.
243
Of the five tournaments winners, Frittelli made the biggest leap in the Official World Golf Ranking as he moved from 434th to 191st - his highest standing since April 2023, prior to playing at the RBC Heritage on the PGA TOUR.
261
The lowest winning total (-27) across the five tournaments, achieved by Olesen through rounds of 69, 62, 63 and 67.
