Rory McIlroy’s season-long brilliance almost saw him snatch another individual victory, but in a 30-minute whirlwind of drama, Matt Fitzpatrick emerged victorious at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The Englishman secured his third title at the tournament, pocketing £2.3 million, while McIlroy had to settle for the runner-up spot and a seventh Race to Dubai crown.
It was a bittersweet ending for McIlroy—an astonishing season that brought him close to yet another triumph, only to fall just short in the ultimate test of nerves.
The Dramatic Last Hole
The excitement boiled over on the final hole of regulation play.
Fitzpatrick, who had been chasing the lead for most of the week, produced a clutch up-and-down to card a birdie, finishing at 18 under par with a round of 66.
Suddenly, he had a two-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
McIlroy, one group behind, arrived at the long par-five 18th needing a 15-foot putt to force a play-off.
He delivered, sending the ball home and erupting into a fist-pumping celebration reminiscent of his eagle-saving heroics at the Irish Open in September.
But unlike that earlier day, the story was far from over.
Play-Off Pressure
The play-off quickly turned into a test of nerves.
Fitzpatrick’s tee shot landed in the left-hand rough, while McIlroy found the stream running through the fairway.
From there, he sent his third shot into a bunker. Fitzpatrick, steady and focused, calmly sealed the victory with a par.
“It means the world,” Fitzpatrick said after clinching his 11th professional win.
“I struggled at the start of the year, but to turn it around in the summer, play well at the Ryder Cup, and finish like this—it’s hard to top.
One bad shot all day… I’m so proud of myself.”
Clutch Birdies Seal the Win
Fitzpatrick’s late charge included three birdies in the final five holes, capitalizing on McIlroy’s back-nine wobble.
The world No. 2 had stormed through the early holes, gaining five shots in five holes to pull ahead of co-leader Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, but bogeys on the 12th and 16th, along with pars at 14 and 15, slowed his momentum.
Fitzpatrick’s composure in the final stretch highlighted the season-long improvements he’s made, from coaching adjustments to caddie changes, turning a rocky start into Ryder Cup heroics and tournament glory.
McIlroy’s Consolation and Milestones
Though McIlroy came up short, the Northern Irishman achieved significant milestones.
His seventh Race to Dubai crown moves him past Seve Ballesteros in the all-time standings, just one behind Colin Montgomerie’s record.
“I spoke to Carmen, Seve’s widow, before the final round,” McIlroy said.
“She told me how proud he would have been. Seve’s legacy means so much to this tour and European golf.
To surpass him… I didn’t even dream I’d get this far.”
McIlroy is now focused on Montgomerie’s record. “It feels within touching distance.
I want to be the European with the most wins in the Order of Merit,” he said.
A Season of Thrills and Near-Misses
The DP World Tour Championship finale perfectly encapsulated McIlroy’s 2025 season: moments of brilliance, flashes of vulnerability, and fierce competition.
Fitzpatrick’s victory added another chapter to his career, while McIlroy continues to chase historic milestones, blending personal achievement with a relentless drive for European golf dominance.
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