Rory McIlroy claimed his seventh Race to Dubai title but was edged out in a play-off by Matt Fitzpatrick at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
In a remarkable repeat of his heroics on the 72nd green at the Irish Open in the K Club, McIlroy, who led for much of the back nine on Sunday, holed a 15-footer for eagle to force his way into the play-off with his Ryder Cup team-mate.
It sparked hopes of a repeat of the dramatic scenes in Kildare in September, when McIlroy finally overcame Joakim Lagergren on the third play-off hole.
However, this play-off was a comparative damp squib, with McIlroy’s hopes essentially sunk after he dunked his drive in the stream that wound its way through the par-five 18th. After taking his penalty shot, he bombed his third shot into the bunker to the right of the green.
2022 US Open champion Fitzpatrick, who posted a 66 to set the clubhouse lead on 18-under, took a conservative tack on the extra hole, laying up with his second shot before hitting a jittery approach beyond the back of the green.
However, a composed pitch shot left him with a two-footer for par, leaving McIlroy with another long-ish putt to prolong the play-off.
This time, his putt died short of the hole and Fitzpatrick tapped in to seal the title. McIlroy may have missed out on the title but the second place finish was enough to seal a fourth successive Race to Dubai win and a seventh in total.
More to follow…