Rory McIlroy secured a third DP World Tour Championship and a sixth Race To Dubai title at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course on Sunday.
Following a third place at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last week - in the first round of the DP World Tour playoffs - McIlroy could only be caught by South Africa's Thriston Lawrence in the season-long competition and was in pole position to complete a hat-trick of double wins throughout his career in Europe.
Entering the last day of the final event in a share of first place, McIlroy faced an intriguing battle with Rasmus Hojgaard as fellow overnight leader, Antoine Rozner drifted back into the chasing pack.
Yet, it was the four-time Major winner who ultimately triumphed after carding a closing 69 to defeat a field of 49 other golfers - led by Hojgaard - by at least two strokes, cementing his place alongside the great Seve Ballesteros in the list of most European Tour Order of Merit titles.
McIlroy now only trails Colin Montgomerie (eight) in the all-time list and climbed alongside Jon Rahm in relation to the most season-ending championships.
A bogey on the first put McIlroy behind the eight ball early, but he rallied in world-class style to record four consecutive birdies between holes two and five.
The middle third of McIlroy's round was tough sledding, though, as two bogeys punctuated a frustrating section between the sixth and 15th. However, a game-changing wedge shot into the 16th allowed the Northern Irishman to regain his advantage - a position from which he never looked back.
Although Hojgaard - who will join his twin brother Nicolai on the PGA Tour next season - produced a stunning par save on the 17th to maintain pressure on McIlroy, the 35-year-old cracked a perfect drive down 18 on his way to carding a final birdie which put the icing on the cake.
Afterwards, an emotional McIlroy said: "It means a lot. I've been through a lot this year, professionally, personally, and it feels like the fitting end to 2024.
"Look, I've persevered this year a lot. Had close calls. Wasn't able to get it done. So to be able to get over the line... I got off to a great start and then I didn't have my best in the middle of the round - Rasmus and I both struggled to get any momentum.
"I thought saving par on 15 was huge. I made four great swings coming in, the wedge on 16, the shot on 17 and the two shots on the last.
"I'm really pleased with the way I finished, and thankfully I hung in on a tough day and got the job done."
Hojgaard ended the DP World Tour Championship in second on 13-under while Adam Scott and Shane Lowry shared third with Rozner on 11-under.
LIV golfer Tyrrell Hatton was solo sixth a shot further back, one in front of a four-player group which included Joaquin Niemann and Robert MacIntyre.
DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD
- -15 Rory McIlroy (69)
- -13 Rasmus Hojgaard (71)
- -11 Adam Scott (68)
- -11 Shane Lowry (68)
- -11 Antoine Rozner (73)
- -10 Tyrrell Hatton (71)
- -9 Robert MacIntyre (70)
- -9 Joaquin Niemann (73)
- -9 Jesper Svensson (73)
- -9 Keita Nakajima (71)
- -8 Matt Wallace (71)
- -8 Tom McKibbin (72)
UPDATES FROM...
WELCOME TO THE BACK NINE
Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the DP World Tour Championship final round. Rory McIlroy stands on the edge of a brilliant double victory in Dubai, with this week's title and the season-long Race To Dubai both within reach.
While the Race To Dubai is all-but in the can already, the Northern Irishman is facing quite the fight to land a third DP World Tour Championship title. He has Rasmus Hojgaard breathing down his neck and holds a one-stroke lead as they both tee off on the 11th.
Away from the leaders, there is the small matter of the 10 PGA Tour cards still to decide, and a number of players remain in with a chance.
Thank you for joining me. Stay right here for all the key updates as they happen at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course.
MCILROY SO FAR
The four-time Major winner began the day with a bogey but responded in scintillating style by banging in four birdies in a row thereafter. However, from the sixth hole onwards, McIlroy has only managed pars - aside from another bogey at nine which has kept the chasers interested.
On 11, he has thumped a wedge in pretty close from 159 and has a chance to respond.
After a bogey at the first, Rory bounces back with two birdies to join the lead 💪#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Zezu3iqYCWNovember 17, 2024
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
In relation to his approach shot, Hojgaard was blocked out by a tree and was only able to find the centre of the green. From there, the Dane gave it a great go but watched his ball trickle wide. He tidies up for par.
McIlroy has a chance from much closer, but he also can't find the hole and the gap remains one...
ROZNER FADING
The Frenchman was battling to win the DP World Tour Championship, but now he's simply fighting to retain his place among the top-10 European-based golfers set to earn a PGA Tour card.
Another bogey leaves him on -10, four strokes away from McIlroy. Adam Scott has also moved up to -10. But Rozner looks tense. It seems like the 18th can't come quickly enough for Rozner.
SIX HOLES TO PLAY
The top-two play a dangerous game off the tee, flirting with the left-side fairway bunker, but watch their respective drives bounce kindly back towards the fairway.
Hojgaard is wayward with his approach from the fairway while McIlroy just finds the front of the green from the first cut.
Neither land their birdie attempts from range, but both confidently slam in their par saves.
CONSECUTIVE BIRDIES FOR HATTON
Likely playing for Ryder Cup points and a little extra cash at this point, Hatton has overcome more dissatisfaction with his game today to post back-to-back birdies. He's on -10 and four back with five holes to play.
Be nice :) #DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/aogz5xPUeDNovember 17, 2024
TROUBLE FOR MCILROY
The current leader wasn't happy with his tee shot on the par-3 13th, watching it fade into the right green-side rough. His chip came out so softly and short, too, and the par attempt dribbles painfully wide, as far as McIlroy is concerned. He's back to -13.
Rasmus Hojgaard cards a three, and now we're all tied at the top.
Elsewhere, Robert MacIntyre has joined the burgeoning group on 10-under thanks to a superb putt on the 16th.
CO-LEADERS LACKING RHYTHM?
The gap between the two leaders and the next best players is three strokes, but the way McIlroy and Hojgaard are playing - compared to the charge those behind are making - I really don't think this tournament is a foregone conclusion.
Hojgaard was forced to lay up after finding the deep rough off the tee on the par-5 14th, while McIlroy over-drew his second shot from 223 yards and now has an awkward chip in front of him. The effort from McIlroy is very good, though, leaving a makeable putt for birdie. McIlroy can't make it drop, and he remains at 13-under.
His playing partner gives his own birdie putt from almost 25 feet a real run at the hole, but it just lips out while travelling at pace. If that was anything close to dead weight, it was in.
LEADERS SHOW RECOVERY POWERS
McIlroy ripped his drive on the 377-yard par-4 into a bunker short and right of the green, but he left himself the hardest shot in golf - a long-range bunker shot. The resulting strike wasn't amazing, and he'll do well to get up and down from just off the green and some 40 feet away with an awkward shoulder in the way.
While many would have chipped from such a position, McIlroy did it his way and ultimately tidies up from three feet for par.
Meanwhile, Hojgaard is at the back of the green in two and looks odds on for a par as well. He has cosied up his birdie effort after a really well-judged long-range lag putt. That's a par from Rasmus.
CLASSY SCOTT ON THE CHARGE
Adam Scott is currently on -10 but has given himself an eagle chance on 18 after a stunning approach which would take him to -12. As I mentioned earlier, with the way the two leaders are playing - nervy, lacking a bit of rhythm - this one might not be over...
MCILROY MAKES A MOVE
McIlroy powers a 3-wood over the bunkers in the middle of the fairway and leaves himself 138 yards on the 486-yard par 4. The approach could well be tournament-defining.
He slides a wedge towards the flag and cries for it to go. His ball listens, and it stops at kick-in range. Extraordinary.
In an attempt to respond, Hojgaard plops his golf ball into the heart of the green. This is a big putt coming up for the Dane... and he doesn't make it. The par putt is safely rolled home, though.
Meanwhile, Adam Scott cannot make eagle despite a great try. The Australian ends on -11 and is currently in a tie for third alongside Shane Lowry.
Step up Rory McIlroy 👊He moves one shot ahead with two holes to play.#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/ZLp3rVbJp4November 17, 2024
RORY PUTTING THE HAMMER DOWN
200 yards into the par-3 17th, and McIlroy opts for a 6-iron. It's a great choice from he and caddie, Harry Diamond as the ball pitches some 20 feet away and leaves him a pretty good birdie chance.
In response, Hojgaard mutters a curse word after pulling his own 6-iron into short grass between bunkers. Luckily for the Dane, if there is any consolation, it didn't go in the huge lake even further left.
HOJGAARD HOUDINI
Facing a tight lie off the green and a gradually-increasing uphill gradient, Hojgaard opts to use his putter but only just makes it onto the putting surface. It seemed a strange choice, but just seconds later, all is forgotten as he rolls in a magical par save. How did he escape with a three there?!
McIlroy is unsuccessful with his birdie putt, and from a position where the tournament could have been put on ice, the leaders are going down 18 separated by only one stroke...
Hold on to your hats, everyone!
PERFECT DRIVE FROM MCILROY
Knowing he is within touching distance of a double victory, McIlroy absolutely slams a perfect drive onto the second portion of fairway (just to the right of the snaking hazard) which opens up the possibility of an eagle.
Hojgaard might have started experiencing some doubts now as his drive ends up right of the rough and in the tree bark, short of McIlroy's drive.
ROZNER WRAPS UP PGA TOUR CARD
We will cover this in greater detail later via our article highlighting all 10 DP World Tour players to earn a PGA Tour card, but - for now - Rozner has just squeezed in the back door and picked one up via a birdie on his 72nd hole.
It wasn't vintage from the Frenchman today, but he has done enough, so our congratulations to him.
OFF-TARGET APPROACHES
Hojgaard is disgusted with himself after pulling his second shot into the rough left of the green. Luckily, it just misses the stream.
McIlroy's effort wasn't much better, mind, as the Northern Irishman lacks the necessary draw and faces a pretty nasty downhill chip/putt from off the green to the right. This will be quick with a capital Q. Plus, there is a stream lurking in McIlroy's direct line of sight if he gets a little clumsy with it.
BIRDIE PUTTS FOR BOTH
McIlroy has some six feet left up the hill after dribbling his third shot down the hill. Hojgaard went for it with his eagle chip and has a much longer try remaining.
Basically, it comes down to this. Hojgaard has to make this for a playoff...
HOJGAARD MISSES
A great try from the Dane, but it was just off target. Now, over to McIlroy...
RORY MCILROY WINS DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
McIlroy rolls his own birdie putt into the hole and he wins the DP World Tour Championship by two strokes! He is now a three-time winner of this event and a six-time Race To Dubai champion.
Rory wins his THIRD DP World Tour Championship title 🏆#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/D2Bogy7kVzNovember 17, 2024
EMOTIONAL MCILROY SPEAKS
Anyone who thought McIlroy might not have been that bothered about winning the Race To Dubai, watch this...
"I've been through a lot this year. Professionally and personally. It feels like a fitting end to 2024."Rory McIlroy after winning the DP World Tour Championship: pic.twitter.com/RQxChnOzrXNovember 17, 2024
THE MCILROYS CELEBRATING
McIlroy said it himself, it's been a tough year both on and off the golf course. A little moment like this likely means more than any Major championship ever could, so it must be incredibly special to enjoy after such a significant victory.
Rory celebrating with his family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/thQe9qoqhwNovember 17, 2024
SIX RACE TO DUBAI TITLES
McIlroy is now level with Seve Ballesteros and only two behind Colin Montgomerie when it comes to European Tour Order of Merit titles. It seems like an inevitability the Northern Irishman will manage to surpass the Scottish icon one day, it's surely just a matter of when...
