McIlroy seals seventh Race to Dubai as Fitzpatrick wins in Dubai
McIlroy seals seventh Race to Dubai as Fitzpatrick wins in Dubai
Rory McIlroy clinches his seventh Race to Dubai crown as Matt Fitzpatrick wins the DP World Tour Championship in a dramatic Dubai finale.
Rory McIlroy clinched his seventh Race to Dubai title in a dramatic Dubai finale, while Matt Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championship in a playoff against him. The tension built on the back nine as four players traded the lead, and the race to the end looked set for a six‑way playoff at one point. Neergaard-Petersen looked to have carved out a spot with a 68 in the final round, finishing 17 under and just inches from the playoff line. Fleetwood and Canter both ended at 17 under, with five back-nine birdies boosting Fleetwood into contention and Canter's 67 built on an opening streak of four birdies in seven holes. Ludvig Aberg matched Fitzpatrick with a 66 to reach 17 under as well, while Justin Rose, holder of the course record 62 at the Earth Course in Dubai, started strong and momentarily looked a heartbeat away from the leaders after a 50-foot birdie on the sixth, before finishing at 15 under after a run of pars.
Tyrrell Hatton could have blocked McIlroy’s crown with a victory of his own but stumbled early, carding a level-par 72. Marco Penge, who has had a breakthrough 2025 with three DP World Tour wins, finished with a closing 67 to end on nine under and secure runner-up status in the Race to Dubai standings. His performance also earned him a coveted PGA Tour card for next season.
For McIlroy, the victory seals a seventh Race to Dubai title, putting him one clear of Seve Ballesteros and one behind Colin Montgomerie’s all-time record haul. The emotional Irishman paid tribute to Ballesteros after sealing the season-long crown, underscoring the weight of legacy in a week defined by dramatic twists and big names.
In the end, Fitzpatrick’s playoff win in the event and McIlroy’s season-long supremacy created a pair of memorable moments, underscoring Dubai’s role as a fitting stage for golf’s closing chapters of the year.
Cover image source: Rory McIlroy loses playoff to Matt Fitzpatrick, wins Race to Dubai 🔗
