Rory McIlroy has responded to suggestions that he was given star treatment for this weekend's European Tour finale, the DP World Tour Championship, by saying he would happily give away any winnings earned in Dubai.
McIlroy was involved in a terse exchange with Danny Willett over his eligibility for the £2.1 million jackpot should he stay top of the Race to Dubai standings after Sunday's finale.
The world No. 3 was given special dispensation by new European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley to remain on the money list by playing only 12 events -- one fewer than the required 13 -- following a seven-week injury layoff.
Willett, who has played 22 events to McIlroy's 11 and remains his closest challenger, insisted he had no complaints, but questioned his rival's decision not to play in last week's BMW Masters.
McIlroy, aiming to lift the Harry Vardon Trophy for the third time in four years, was not motivated by money.
"That [allowing me to play] was the decision that the European Tour came to and obviously it's great for me that I'm able to be here and compete this week," McIlroy told reporters on Tuesday.
"It's not about the bonus pool [money]; it's just about being able to compete here and play and try to win the Race to Dubai again. I'd gladly take the trophy and they can keep the money and do whatever they want with it. It's more about trying to win the Race to Dubai again."
Willett could have overtaken McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai standings had he finished lone 28th or higher in last week's BMW Masters, the third event of the Final Series.
However, the Englishman's final round of 70 meant he finished tied for 28th with Alexander Levy and Peter Uilhein, which leaves him 1,613 points shy of McIlroy's lead heading into the DP World Tour Championship.
The final event of the series begins on Thursday at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, with 7.5 million points up for grabs -- including over 1.2 million for the winner.