Sportsupdated 22m ago2 min read
MapRory McIlroy Wins Record-Equalling Eighth Race to Dubai Title, Dedicates It to Ill Father
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McIlroy finished runner-up at the finale to claim a record-equaling eighth Race to Dubai. Tyrrell Hatton won the DP World Tour Championship by five strokes.
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McIlroy wins, dedicates
Rory McIlroy finished solo second at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates to claim a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, matching Colin Montgomerie's season-long European tour titles. McIlroy dedicated the win to his ill father, Gerry, saying Gerry had been in hospital for the last two months after "a huge operation" and a double lung transplant at the end of September. McIlroy told the DP World Tour, "This one's for him," after he said Gerry told him, "Go win the Race to Dubai" when he visited him in Cleveland before leaving for the Middle East.
Tyrrell Hatton won the tournament with a five-shot margin, posting a six-under 66 to end on 15 under, while McIlroy pipped Eugenio Chacarra for the overall crown. Eugenio Chacarra finished in a tie for third after a final round of 69, and the season-long battle between Chacarra and McIlroy came down to the last hole at the Earth Course.
Quotes from McIlroy and Chacarra
McIlroy described his father’s condition in detail, telling the DP World Tour reporter Tim Barter that Gerry had been in the hospital for the last two months and had undergone a huge operation at the end of September.
McIlroy added, "He’s recovering well, thankfully," and he said he went up to Cleveland to see Gerry before leaving for the Middle East.
Eugenio Chacarra said the Race to Dubai outcome reflected the nature of golf, telling Sky Sports, "It was a good fight. I just came out short - that's the beauty of golf."
Chacarra also said he knew it would be tough because McIlroy had played the course 14, 15 times, and he said McIlroy had "a better day than I did."
Tyrrell Hatton, after his tournament win, said he was "really nervous today" and that he had "a bit of heartbreak around here" before the final day.
What the result changes
The DP World Tour Championship finale set up the season-long stakes that included the Race to Dubai crown, with the DP World Tour Championship title and the Race to Dubai battle decided at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The DP World Tour’s final-day preview said the top ten players on the final 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings would earn Dual Membership on the PGA Tour for 2027, and it named Chacarra as the Race to Dubai leader entering the finale. The preview also said the first 25 players in the Final Race to Dubai standings for 2026 would earn an exemption into the 155th Open at St Andrews in 2027.
After the Sunday outcome, the Sky Sports report said Chacarra ended the week on eight under alongside Oliver Lindell, and it placed them among the 10 players to have secured dual membership on the PGA Tour via their Race to Dubai ranking. The BBC account said McIlroy’s win drew him level with Colin Montgomerie, and it described his next target as surpassing Monty for Race to Dubai victories.