The week finishes on a high as Rory McIlroy wins his fifth Race to Dubai title
Rory McIlroy started his final round eight shots behind leader Matt Wallace. The Northern Irishman started with an opening par before a two-putt birdie at the par five second. On the third hole McIlroy had 109 yards for his second shot and he nearly put it in the hole for an eagle but settled for a tap in birdie. The Northern Irishman went to three under for the round after holing a great birdie putt at the fifth hole. His tee shot at the par three sixth some how avoided the water but failed to get up and down for a par.
The bogey at the sixth stopped McIlroy’s momentum and his iron play was the weakest part of his game all week. McIlroy had 50 feet for an eagle at the par five seventh which he ended up with a three-putt par after a poor birdie miss. McIlroy’s hopes of having a low final round evaporated after a bogey and not taken advantage of the par five. McIlroy started to get frustrated as he made a bogey on the par four 10th which is a short hole for his length.
The week was a bit of a mix bag for McIlroy some good and a little bit rusty. His highlight on the back nine was rolling in a 10 foot putt for birdie. Even though McIlroy didn’t win the DP World Tour Championship he claimed the Race to Dubai title for a fifth time. In this years majors McIlroy finished tied seventh at the PGA Championship, runner-up in the US Open and a tied sixth at The Open Championship. “It's great. I think it shows my consistency year-to-year”, said McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman won twice on the DP World Tour this year at the Dubai Desert Classic and Genesis Scottish Open. “So it was nice to finally win one of those in Dubai and follow it up in Scotland, which is probably one of the best finishes I've ever had in a golf tournament”, said McIlroy. Since the PGA Championship McIlroy didn’t finish outside the top 10 in a PGA Tour event and his consistency resulted in earning over $14.5 million in prize money. “Yeah, still got a little bit left in the tank. In 2023 DP World Tour season McIlroy earned more than seven million in prize money. I think I've still got a good eight to ten years left in me”, said Down native.
McIlroy is third in the all time DP World Tour Order of Merit list with five titles one behind Seve Ballesteros and three behind Colin Montgomerie on eight. “At least try to get past Seve and then sort of try to get past Monty as well”, said McIlroy. McIlroy was also a leader at Marco Simone as he won four points in 2023 Ryder Cup. McIlroy has now been a part of five winning Europe Ryder Cup teams. In the last 10 years McIlroy has won big titles on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour but has been unsuccessful in winning a fifth major. “It's just about trying to be a little more clinical when I get to those weeks where I have chances to win”, said McIlroy.
McIlroy finished in a tie for 22nd and earned $86,625. Shane Lowry missed a par putt at the 18th and settled for a tied 18th finish on 11 under. Lowry earned $99,000 for finishing tied 18th. Tom McKibbin finished on seven under in a tie for 32nd. McKibbin earned $65,000 for finishing in a tie for 32nd.