Rory McIlroy secured a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title after finishing second at the DP World Tour Championship, Sky Sports reported.
The Northern Irishman finished five strokes behind Tyrrell Hatton on 10 under par at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The runner-up finish ensured McIlroy topped the DP World Tour rankings for a fifth successive season. He drew level with Colin Montgomerie’s historical record of eight Order of Merit titles.
Tyrrell Hatton claimed a runaway victory at the tournament, finishing on 15-under par after shooting a closing six-under-par 66, according to BBC. The 35-year-old Englishman secured a five-stroke victory over McIlroy to collect his ninth DP World Tour title and a $3 million winner’s check from the $10 million purse, Golf Digest reported.
Winning eight Race to Dubai titles was never something I imagined as a kid. To now be alongside Monty is very special. Proud to be a European player and proud to be part of the @DPWorldTour. This one’s for you, Dad. pic.twitter.com/qMHhBSyPdf
Dedication to hospitalised father
McIlroy fought back tears while discussing his father, Gerry, who has spent the last two months recovering in a Cleveland hospital following a double-lung transplant in September. The golfer admitted he spent nine days in intensive care during the ordeal and questioned whether he should travel to play.
“When I left to come here to the Middle East, I went up to Cleveland to see him before I went and he said to me, ‘Go win the Race to Dubai’. This one is for him,” McIlroy said.
Winning eight Race to Dubai titles is an incredible achievement. Congratulations @McIlroyRory – to maintain that level of consistency over such a long period takes an extraordinary amount of hard work, hunger and dedication. Huge congrats to @Eugeniochacarra for a great season…
The golfer explained that his family endured a stressful period managing the health crisis.
McIlroy said he went up to see him before he left for Abu Dhabi a couple of weeks ago, and he told him, “Rors, go and win me The Race to Dubai.”
Rory McIlroy teared up after winning his eighth @DPWorldTour Race to Dubai, dedicating the victory to his dad Gerry ❤️ The elder McIlroy underwent a “huge operation” in late September, and Rory visited his dad in Cleveland before heading overseas for the end of the DP World Tour… pic.twitter.com/c6vKC4HZqW
McIlroy admitted, “It was nice to be able to get it done for him.”
Late battle with Eugenio Chacarra
The season-long rankings race went down to the final hole during an eventful final round in Dubai. McIlroy and Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra traded the projected top spot in the standings on multiple occasions.
Rory's final hole of his 2026 season, with the Race to Dubai title on the line 🎥#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/KO1ycxfODs
McIlroy carded a bogey-free 67, sealing his position in the rankings with a birdie on the par-four 16th hole.
“It is probably a good thing but I wasn’t aware of how much it was sort of going back and forth until the 16th,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.
Tournament prize money breakdown
| Position | Golfer | Score | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyrrell Hatton | -15 | $3,000,000 |
| 2 | Rory McIlroy | -10 | $1,260,000 |
| T-3 | Oliver Lindell | -8 | $635,000 |
| T-3 | Eugenio Chacarra | -8 | $635,000 |
Hatton secured the top prize of $3 million, while McIlroy earned $1.26 million for his solo second-place finish.
Scenarios for the Race to Dubai
What does each player need to do to win?
"He's going to go down as probably, well the best European golfer in history by the end of his career." From one champion to another. Tyrrell Hatton's admiration for Rory 💙#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/ShYr3ZpJqw
Upcoming tour schedule
The new DP World Tour season starts at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, running from November 26-29 at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. McIlroy will next compete at the Capital.com Australian Open from December 3-6 in Melbourne, with both events broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Common questions about the tournament
Who won the DP World Tour Championship?
Tyrrell Hatton won the tournament by five strokes on 15 under par.
How many Race to Dubai titles has McIlroy won?
McIlroy has won eight Order of Merit titles, matching Colin Montgomerie’s record.
What is the next event on the schedule?
The BMW Australian PGA Championship begins on November 26.
More on Rory
Keep reading