McIlroy Makes History: Conquers Seventh Race to Dubai Title and Surpasses Ballesteros

McIlroy Surpasses Ballesteros and Conquers his Seventh Race to Dubai Title

In a day full of emotions, Rory McIlroy celebrated the conquest of his seventh Race to Dubai title, thus surpassing Seve Ballesteros’s record, something that, according to his own words, exceeded his dreams. Despite losing in a playoff to Matt Fitzpatrick at the DP World Tour Championship, a tournament that concluded the season in Dubai, the Northern Irishman managed to secure the overall season championship. With this victory, McIlroy is only one title away from Colin Montgomerie’s record.

“It’s incredible. I had a conversation with Carmen [Ballesteros’ ex-wife] before going out to play today and she told me how proud he would be. It means a lot to this Tour and to the European Ryder Cup team. We bonded a lot around his spirit and his quotes and everything he meant to European golf. Matching him last year was great, but surpassing him this year, I didn’t go that far in my dreams, so it’s very good”.

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy also expressed his ambition to reach Montgomerie’s record: “Of course I want [eight titles]. I was the first European to win the Grand Slam and I would love to be the European with the most victories in terms of the Order of Merit and season races.” Fitzpatrick, who started the final round alongside five other players one stroke behind McIlroy and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark, won the tournament. McIlroy, for his part, had a promising start, but Fitzpatrick, with a birdie on the last hole, forced a playoff that he ultimately won. Fitzpatrick commented on his victory:

“He [McIlroy] is one of the few you know you’re going to a playoff with. You go with a two-shot lead with one to play and you know you’re going to a playoff because he did it again the Rory way. I struggled at the start of the year, obviously, and to turn it around in the summer like I did, to have the Ryder Cup like I did, which is hard to top, but the way I played today — there was one bad shot all day. Very proud of myself”.

Matt Fitzpatrick

Tommy Fleetwood, along with Neergaard-Petersen, tied for third place, while Tyrrell Hatton, who had hopes of snatching the title from McIlroy, finished in 14th place.