Rory McIlroy’s playoff loss doesn’t detract from a remarkable season, capped off by his seventh Race to Dubai crown

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[Photo: Luke Walker]

One of the most important seasons in modern professional golf started in Dubai – and ended there, too.

Rory McIlroy first teed it up in 2025 at the Dubai Desert Classic in January. What happened between that T-4 and a playoff loss at the DP World Tour Championship overnight will go down in the record books.

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The Northern Irishman claimed PGA Tour victories at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the Players Championship and the Masters. The last one made him the sixth winner of the career Grand Slam. In the northern autumn, McIlroy turned his focus to the DP World Tour, where he triumphed at the Irish Open in September before playing a starring role (3-1-1) in Europe’s away victory at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

For one last time this season, McIlroy, was in contention to win the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai this weekend. He was leading by two shots midway through the final day at Jumeirah Golf Estates, only to suffer two back-nine bogeys. That allowed Ryder Cup teammate Matt Fitzpatrick to post the clubhouse lead at 18-under-par with a closing 66.

Still, McIlroy faced a 15-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole at Jumeirah’s Earth course to force a playoff with a 67. As he had done at the Irish Open in September, he poured the eagle putt in the centre.

“I got off to the perfect start; four-under through seven [holes] and felt like I had taken control of the golf tournament and was a couple ahead,” McIlroy said. “I made two bogeys on the way in, on 12 and 16 and didn’t birdie 14 and 15, the birdie holes. Obviously knew I needed something to happen on the last. On the last, I knew what I had to do. I hit a great 5-wood. It was a great way to finish, making the playoff.”

In overtime, McIlroy drove it in the water hazard on the 18th and made a sloppy bogey while Fitzpatrick also limped to the finish line. But the Englishman navigated a tricky up-and-down to save par for the win.

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“Unfortunately, hitting it in the water there on 18 put me behind the 8-ball,” McIlroy said. “I’m happy for Matt. He’s had a great end of the season. He played great to get on the Ryder Cup team, and then he’s kept it going since, so really happy for him.”