here has been more bad unfortunately.He got a nice pot today and well keep him going and see what we can get with him.There was a thrilling clim

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Rory McIlroy is resigned to losing his Race to Dubai crown, but his motivation this week is to successfully defend his DP World Tour Championship title and move one step closer to regaining the world No. 1 ranking.McIlroy could have replaced Jason Day atop the rankings by winning the European Tours season-ending tournament, but Russell Knoxs decision to withdraw last week reduced the strength of the field and lowered the number of points available.If Knox, ranked No. 18, had remained in the field, the winner of the tournament would have gained 54 points -- enough for McIlroy to surpass Day. Instead, the winner will earn just 52 points, leaving McIlroy short even with a victory.His chances of contending this weekend seem high. McIlroy, the defending champion and also the 2012 winner at Jumeirah Golf Estates, has finished outside the top 10 only once in seven appearances, tying for 11th in 2011.Its always good to be back here, he said. I have great memories from this place, feel like my game is in pretty good shape. Ive played this golf course pretty well in the past, and hopefully, I can play it just as well, if not better, this week. (It) would be a good way to finish the year on a high and get a victory and lift the trophy and hopefully make the turkey taste a bit better at Christmas.McIlroy acknowledged that he can finish the season atop the European Tour rankings, but knows its unlikely. He must win and needs Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett and Alex Noren, each above him in the Race to Dubai standings, to struggle.I can win mathematically, but its not going to happen, McIlroy said. I wouldnt hold my breath. I think the three guys that are ahead of me are playing very good golf, especially the two Swedes, Henrik and Alex.Alex, with what hes done over the past few weeks; Henrik has had a fantastic year, and so has Danny, obviously, so I dont expect those guys to play badly this week. Im just concentrating on trying to win the golf tournament, and if I can do that, Ill be very happy.McIlroy pulled out of the Turkish Airlines Open, citing security concerns, shortly before the event began earlier this month. That decision virtually ruled him out of the Race to Dubai as well.However, McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, said he has no regrets.Im very happy with my decision, he said. Ive been here for the last couple of weeks. Ive done a bit of practice, enjoyed myself. So, no, no regrets at all.Id rather have gone to Turkey wanting to go there and winning the golf tournament, rather than going there not wanting to and finishing tied 40th. What good does that do to the tournament?Although the next European Tour season begins in December, and the next U.S. PGA Tour season is already underway, McIlroy confirmed the DP World Championship will be his last event of the year. He last played in a December event in 2013. Tony Gonzalez Falcons Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Deion Sanders Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. http://www.thefaclonsshoponline.com/ . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Tony Gonzalez Jersey . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Kendall Sheffield Falcons Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre.More from Punchestown where Elusive Ivy coped with a drop in distance to win the opening JLT Handicap Hurdle. Elusive Ivy knuckled down to claim victory in the JLT Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.Gavin Cromwells mare struck gold at the track in far more testing conditions back in January and having run with some credit on her latest appearance at Fairyhouse, she was a 16/1 shot for the opening race on day three of the Festival. Conditional jockey Brien Kane produced his mount to lead on the run to the final flight and she had just enough left in the tank to hold on by three-quarters of a length from The Brock Inn, with Pakman and Seeyouallincoppers filling out the places.Cromwell saddles stable star Jers Girl in the Grade One Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle on Friday.He said: The little bit of juice in the ground helped her as I thought the two miles might be a bit sharp. Shes stays two and a half.Brien gave her a smashing ride and everything went to plan. The last three weeks she has really turned a corner. She got her summer coat and has been working really well.Shes been Jers Girls work companion so hopefully they have brought each other on.Shell stay going now and she could go chasing.Bright New Dawn got rolling late to claim top honours in the Three.ie Handicap Chase.Formerly trained by Dessie and Sandra Hughes before joining Gordon Elliott at the start of this season, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned nine-year-old is seriously talented but also difficult to predict.As well as winning at Clonmel twice since the turn of the year, he had disappointed at Cheltenham and Aintree and he was a 12/1 chance for his latest appearance.Jessica Harringtons 100/30 favourite Rock The World looked the likely winner after turning for home in front, where hed been since flag fall, but Bright New Dawn mowed him down after the final fence and got up by a length.Sizing Codelco was back in third.Bryan (Cooper) gave him a brilliant ride - I thought he was very good on him, said Elliott.Hes been a very frustrating horse. Hes either very good or very bad and there has been more bad unfortunately.He got a nice pot today and well keep him going and see what we can get with him.There was a thrilling climax to the Murray Spelman Handicap Hurdle, with Nicky Hendersons Cup Final (14/1) gaining a narrow verdict.Elliotts Jury Duty was a well-backed 5/1 favourite and his supporters must have been counting their money when he went clear from the home turn, but Cup Final finished with a wet sail under Robbie Power and got up by a short head.Willie Mullins saddled the third, fourrth and fifth in Burgas, Tarabiyn and Haymount.ddddddddddddHenderson said: Obviously with all the hail showers and rain, things have changed dramatically and its getting tough going out there.Robbie said he wasnt travelling from a very early stage. He crept and crept and it was a brave ride to come from there.He was just good enough. I was standing with Rich Ricci and a few others. They said yes and I said no. I would have settled for half.Elliott was back on the scoresheet in the Setanta Sports Mares Novice Hurdle as 6/4 favourite Missy Tata proved much too good for her opponents.Fourth in the Fred Winter at last months Cheltenham Festival, the four-year-old received all the allowances in this two-mile contest and eased nine lengths clear of Ria DEtel in the hands of leading conditional Jack Kennedy.Shes not a bad mare. She wasnt fit enough at Cheltenham, said Elliott.Im delighted for Jack after getting beat earlier (on Jury Duty). He gave her a grand ride and didnt panic.She loves soft ground and could be a mare to go to France. Ill talk to the owners and make plans.Invitation Only sent favourite-backers home happy with an all-the-way victory in the Kildare Post (C & G) INH Flat Race.Representing the same owner-trainer combination that claimed the prize 12 months ago with the top-class Yorkhill, the Mullins-trained five-year-old was sent off the heavily-supported 9/10 favourite following an impressive bumper debut at Navan last month.Patrick Mullins gradually wound up the gallop aboard the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned gelding and while first Sunni May and then Blast Of Koeman tried to lay down challenges in the straight, Invitation Only saw them off fairly comfortably.The winning rider said: Hes a big, strong chaser really, by Flemensfirth, and I didnt want it to turn into a sprint. I wanted to control the pace and make it a stamina test.I love this horse, he does everything right at home.A clearly impressed Mullins senior said: He looks a decent sort. Hes a stayer and will go novice hurdling next year.Whatever we start off over hell want two and a half to three miles. We kept him out of the champion bumper for this one.He would have been entitled to run in the champion bumper or at Cheltenham, but we kept him back as he came in late. Hes a winter horse.The pace they went there the horses that were up front finished nowhere. Horses were being burned off in the back straight in a winners bumper and to me thats phenomenal.Patricks very sweet on him and wanted to go to the front. We had a front-runner in the field in Augustin but he felt he wouldnt be able to go hard enough! ' ' '