World number three Rory McIlroy ended the season on a high by winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Sunday, two strokes ahead of Rasmus Hojgaard, to seal his sixth Race to Dubai title.
The 35-year-old Northern Irishman carded a 69 in the final round at the Jumeirah Golf Estates to finish on 15 under par after two birdies in the final three holes saw off the challenge of Denmark’s Hojgaard.
McIlroy equalled the six titles won by the late Seve Ballesteros in the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai, previously called the Order of Merit. Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie holds the record with eight victories.
“It’s really cool, I think everyone knows what Seve means to European golf, to Ryder cup players,” a visibly emotional McIlroy said.
“The European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes of Seve, we had a changing room with Seve’s shirt from 1995 the last Ryder Cup he played.
“He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath I’m very proud.”
McIlroy came into the final tournament well on course to clinch his third successive Race to Dubai title, with a lead of 1,785.02 points over second-placed South African Thriston Lawrence, who finished well down the field on one under par.
McIlroy began the final round level with Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner of France on 12 under but Rozner’s challenge faded with a double bogey on the ninth.
