An emotional Rory McIlroy hailed profitable his seventh Race to Dubai title and surpassing Seve Ballesteros as greater than he ever dreamed.
McIlroy placed on a dramatic late comeback to take an eagle on the ultimate gap on the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, however misplaced in a playoff to Matt Fitzpatrick.
As his Ryder Cup teammates celebrated their third win within the competitors, the Northern Irishman took dwelling his season-long crown, beating the late Ballesteros’ six wins and transferring one forward of report holder Colin Montgomerie.
McIlroy instructed Sky Sports activities: “It is superb. I had a dialog with Carmen (Ballesteros’ ex-wife) earlier than we went out to play in the present day and she or he instructed me how proud he can be.
“He means a lot to this tour and to the European Ryder Cup group. We rally a lot round his spirit, his quotes and the whole lot he gave to European golf.
“It was cool to match him final yr, however to surpass him this yr is admittedly cool as a result of I by no means would have gotten this far in my wildest goals.”
McIlroy has additionally set his sights on Montgomery’s mark, including: “I would like it (eight titles), in fact I do. I wish to be the primary European to win a Grand Slam and the European with probably the most wins by way of the Order of Benefit and races in a season.”
Fitzpatrick began the ultimate day in a six-player group with a one-shot lead over McIlroy and Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
McIlroy began the ultimate spherical in model, ending the primary seven holes at 4 beneath to maneuver to the highest of the leaderboard.
However regardless of his stumbles, Fitzpatrick made a birdie on the finish to complete the spherical with a bogey-free 66, forcing a playoff with McIlroy and Neergaard-Petersen each claiming eagles, and transferring into pole place for the win.
– Rory McIlroy loses to Matt Fitzpatrick in playoff to win Euro title
Whereas the Dane was staggering, the Masters champion sunk a putt from about 15 toes to pressure extra time, however Fitzpatrick gained after each gamers missed the inexperienced on their strategy photographs.
“He (McIlroy) is likely one of the few guys who is aware of he will go to the playoffs. He can play one sport with two video games left, however he is aware of he will go to the playoffs in typical Rory vogue,” Fitzpatrick mentioned.
“Clearly I struggled at first of the yr. To show it round like I did in the summertime, it is exhausting to win the Ryder Cup the identical manner, however the best way I performed in the present day, I had one unhealthy shot all day. I am very pleased with myself.”
Tommy Fleetwood was in a bunch of 4 together with Neergaard Petersen, who tied for third after the 67th and remaining race, however Tyrrell Hatton, the one participant who began the ultimate day with the faint hope of stopping McIlroy from profitable the Race to Dubai title, dropped down the sphere and completed in a shared 14th place.
