DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy’s stellar season ended with a dramatic twist in Dubai. The Northern Irishman eagled the 72nd hole to force a playoff at the DP World Tour Championship, only to be denied by Matt Fitzpatrick, who sealed his third victory at the season finale.
McIlroy’s consolation was significant: a fourth consecutive Race to Dubai crown, confirming him as Europe’s top player in a year highlighted by his Masters triumph to complete the career Grand Slam, victories at The Players Championship and the Irish Open, and a key role in Europe’s away Ryder Cup win.
All of McIlroy’s major titles this season came via playoffs, but one more proved out of reach. A drive into the creek on the first extra hole at the 18th led to a bogey, while Fitzpatrick calmly chipped to three feet and converted his par putt to lift the trophy once again at Jumeirah Golf Estates, adding to his wins in 2016 and 2020.
“Obviously you never like to see the way it ends, but obviously delighted,” Fitzpatrick said after sealing his first win in two years.
McIlroy generated the biggest roar of the match when he poured in a 15-footer for eagle on No. 18 to complete a round of 5-under 67 and join Fitzpatrick at 18-under par. He also eagled the last at the Irish Open in September to force a playoff before going on to beat Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren at The K Club.
“In typical Rory fashion, he did it again,” said Fitzpatrick, who watched it unfold while sitting in the scorer’s hut. He met McIlroy outside, shaking his hand and giving his Ryder Cup teammate a hug.
They did so again after the playoff, which finished with both of them as winners.
For McIlroy, it’s a seventh Race to Dubai title, putting him one clear of the late Seve Ballesteros and one behind Colin Montgomerie’s record haul.
“I didn’t get this far in my dreams, so it’s very cool,” said McIlroy, who revealed that he spoke to Ballesteros’ wife, Carmen, before his final round.
“It seems within touching distance now,” McIlroy added about catching Montgomerie according to AP.
“I’d love to be the winningest European in terms of Order of Merits and season long races. You know, I’ve probably got a few more good years left in me, and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.”
Nine players either led or held a share of the lead across a wild few hours at the Earth course that culminated in Fitzpatrick making three birdies in his final five holes to overtake McIlroy and overhaul a slew of Europe’s other stars, including Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Aberg.
He hit a fairway wood from around 230 yards to the right of the pin, got a good read from playing partner Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who was a few feet further away, and drained the putt.
Neergaard-Petersen (68) made birdie to join the group at 17 under in a tie for third.
Fitzpatrick, the US Open champion in 2022, started the season slowly but finished strong, getting onto the Ryder Cup team on the back of top-10 finishes at the British Masters in August and the European Masters and BMW PGA Championship in September.
“To turn it around in the summer like I did and have a Ryder Cup like I did, feel like it’s hard to top given everything,” Fitzpatrick said.
“But the way that I played, I feel like I really didn’t hit one bad shot. I’m so proud of myself, the effort that everyone puts in behind the scenes. Yeah, what a feeling.”
