Bhubaneswar: Rory McIlroy capped off a rollercoaster year by clinching his seventh Race to Dubai title — but it was Matt Fitzpatrick who took the spoils at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in dramatic fashion.
In a thrilling final day at Jumeirah Golf Estates, McIlroy eagled the 18th hole to force a playoff with Fitzpatrick after both finished regulation at –18. However, on the first hole of the playoff, McIlroy’s tee shot found the water, and Fitzpatrick calmly rolled in a par putt from close range to seal a third Tour Championship win.
Despite the heartbreak, McIlroy’s consistency throughout the season was enough to secure the overall Race to Dubai crown. With this triumph, he pulls ahead of the late Seve Ballesteros, now holding one more season-long title.
Speaking after the win, Fitzpatrick said:
“It means the world … there was one bad shot all day. So proud of myself … What a feeling.”
An emotional McIlroy, reflecting on the milestone, added:
“I didn’t get this far in my dreams … To surpass him [Seve Ballesteros], it’s very cool … It seems within touching distance now [to beat Colin Montgomerie’s record].”
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