Well before the concluding stroke of the 2025 DP World Tour Championship occurred, Rory McIlroy had already secured his seventh Race to Dubai title. Achieving his fourth consecutive season-long victory in Europe, placing him second overall behind only Colin Montgomerie (eight), the Northern Irishman almost augmented his collection by aiming for a double, seeking to win the European circuit’s final event alongside the year-long competition.
However, McIlroy — despite an impressive eagle on the 72nd hole — was defeated on the first playoff hole by Matt Fitzpatrick, his Ryder Cup colleague and fellow European. The Englishman delivered matching 66s over the weekend, navigating his way through the field to conclude his 72 holes at 18 under. A standard par on the first additional hole, the par-5 18th, sufficed for Fitzpatrick to overcome McIlroy and claim his third DP World Tour Championship title.
“This victory is incredibly meaningful,” expressed Fitzpatrick. “I faced challenges early this year, but I managed to turn things around during the summer and had a Ryder Cup experience that’s difficult to surpass given everything. The way I performed today, I genuinely felt like I didn’t make a single poor shot throughout the day. I’m immensely proud of my efforts and the support of everyone behind the scenes. It’s an amazing feeling.”
McIlroy seemed to have control of the tournament, exiting the par-4 11th with a two-stroke advantage and seven holes remaining. Reaching a high point of 5 under for the round at that stage, the 36-year-old then encountered difficulties, adding bogeys to his scorecard on the 12th and 16th holes, causing him to lose his lead.
Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick persisted in his efforts, mirroring his performance throughout the year. A series of pars in the middle of his round preceded a strong finish, with Fitzpatrick making impressive birdie putts from 9 feet and 25 feet on the 14th and 15th holes, propelling him to the top of a crowded leaderboard that included players like Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, and Laurie Canter.
When those three contenders could achieve no better than 17 under, Fitzpatrick found himself with the opportunity to capitalize on the final hole. Successfully getting up and down from the right side of the green, he posted 18 under as McIlroy observed from the right side of the fairway, equipped with a 5 wood and an eagle in mind.
McIlroy executed his 5 wood shot flawlessly, setting up an eagle opportunity. After receiving advice from his playing partner, Rasmus Neergard-Petersen, McIlroy confidently approached his putt and watched as his ball disappeared into the hole, once again delivering his best performance at the crucial moment.
“Naturally, you assume he’ll make it,” Fitzpatrick noted. “He’s one of the few players where you anticipate a playoff, even with a two-stroke lead and one hole remaining. In typical Rory fashion, he delivered again, and although you never prefer to see it end that way, I’m obviously delighted with the outcome.”
While McIlroy may not have prevailed in the playoff, he now moves closer to achieving even greater golfing distinction. With seven Race to Dubai titles to his name, the grand slam champion — who now has an award named after him — surpasses European legend Seve Ballesteros’ six titles and directly follows Montgomerie.
“As I mentioned on this green last year, [Seve] is incredibly important to this tour and to the European Ryder Cup team,” McIlroy stated. “We heavily rely on his spirit, his quotes, and his significance to European golf. Equaling his record last year was a great honor, but surpassing him this year exceeds my wildest dreams. It’s an incredible feeling.”
Montgomerie’s record of eight titles included a streak of seven consecutive victories from 1999 to 2005. McIlroy is currently on a similar streak, securing four consecutive crowns since 2022. He seems determined to continue his success, showing no indication of slowing down as he approaches his late 30s.
“Of course, I aspire to achieve it,” McIlroy affirmed. “I spoke with [Montgomerie] earlier this week when he was here, and I saw him. It seems within reach now. I would be thrilled to become the most successful European in terms of Order of Merits and season-long races. I believe I have several good years ahead of me, and I hope to catch and surpass him.”
