Rory McIlroy loses playoff but clinches seventh Race to Dubai title

DUBAI – Rory McIlroy lost the week-long US$10 million (S$13.01 million) DP World Tour Championship on Nov 16 in a play-off against Matt Fitzpatrick, but did enough to ensure he was crowned the winner of the season-long Race to Dubai.

“It’s absolutely incredible. I knew I still had a bit of work to do to get over the line in the Race to Dubai,” said McIlroy, who will remain the world No. 2.

The Northern Irishman topped the European tour's season-ending rankings for a seventh time and fourth consecutive season. This moved him one ahead of Severiano Ballesteros (six wins) and one behind record holder Colin Montgomerie (eight wins).

“It seems within touching distance now,” added McIlroy. “I was the first European to win the Grand Slam, and I’d love to be the most successful European in terms of winning Order of Merits and season-long races.

“I want it, of course I do... I caught up with Monty this week when he was here a couple days ago and I saw him. You know, I’ve probably got a few more good years left in me, and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.”

He added that Ballesteros “was always my dad’s favourite player”.

“When I hear Seve, it just sort of brings me back through my whole journey in the game, and yeah, it’s quite emotional.”

Englishman Fitzpatrick birdied the 72nd hole to finish with a 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth course. Minutes later, McIlroy eagled the same hole after a brilliant second shot to 16 feet. On the first playoff hole, McIlroy’s drive found the fairway stream and he made bogey, giving Fitzpatrick his third win at the season-ending tournament.

Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, kept his nerve for his third DP World Tour Championship title and a 10th DP World Tour victory in 195 starts.

Until he finished tied eighth in the PGA Championship in May, he did not have a top-10 for nearly 11 months.

“This means the world,” said Fitzpatrick, who picked up two-and-half points as Europe won the Ryder Cup in September.

“Struggled at the start of this year, obviously, and to turn it around in the summer like I did and have a Ryder Cup like I did, it feels like it’s hard to top given everything.

“I feel like I really didn’t hit one bad shot all day.”

Four players – England’s Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Laurie Canter (67), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (66) and Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (68) – tied for third at 17-under total.

England’s Marco Penge finished in a tie for 22nd to secure second place in the Race to Dubai.

He led 10 non-exempt players who will get their PGA Tour card for 2026. That list includes Canter, Kristoffer Reitan, Adrien Saddier, Alex Noren, John Parry, Haotong Li, Keita Nakajima, Neergaard-Petersen and Jordan Smith. AFP, REUTERS