McIlroy wins 'Dubai Double' for second time

Rory McIlroy claimed his second ‘Dubai Double’ in four years as he saw off the challenge of England’s Andy Sullivan to win the $8 million DP World Tour Championship at the Earth course, Jumeirah Golf Estates by one shot and with it the season-long Race to Dubai title on Sunday.

McIlroy carded a final round 66 to end with a 21-under aggregate score of 267, having begun the day on 15 under, a shot adrift of England’s Sullivan at the $8 million European Tour's season finale.

Playing partner Sullivan's 68 left him on 268, one stroke short despite stretching his advantage early on as McIlroy seized control mid-round with seven birdies in 11 holes.

The four-time major winner could even afford to take a drop on the 17th after finding the water, eventually recovering to make a 40-foot bogey before sealing victory with a 12-inch par putt on the final green.

"It's probably the longest putt I've ever made for a bogey; I don't think there's been one that's come at a better time, so definitely the best bogey of my career," the Northern Irishman told reporters.

The victory was his fourth of the year and first since May, McIlroy having missed three tournaments including the British Open at St. Andrews after rupturing ankle ligaments while playing soccer in July.

McIlroy’s 12th tour title means the 26-year-old also retained the Race to Dubai, formerly known as the Order of Merit and given to Europe’s top money earner. He was also victorious in 2012 and 2014.

“It’s a fantastic way to finish the season - winning my second DP World Tour Championship and my third Race to Dubai in four years,” said McIlroy.

“I didn’t think Andy was ever going to miss - every time I holed a birdie, he matched it. He’s a terrific performer and I had to give it everything to win.

“He played phenomenal golf all week but then you don’t win three times in a season without being a great player. I got to the turn in three-under yet I wasn’t making up any ground. The birdies on the 14th and 15th were definitely a turning point and I managed to get myself out of a hole with the bogey on 17.”

For Sullivan, it was a case of ‘hopes dashed’ and proof he was playing against one of the best in the world.

“Being the class performer Rory is, I had to birdie 14 and 15 just stay with him and parring both left me just that little bit too much to do,” smiled Sullivan.

“On the 17th, I thought I've got a chance. But Rory got a good read on my first putt and I turned to my caddie and said: "I expect him to hole this." That's just the quality he is and the world-class performer he is.”

For Sullivan second place guaranteed the largest cheque of his career ($888,880) and a career-best overall placing of eighth in The Race to Dubai.

“Maybe one shot better and I’d have taken him to a play-off,” he added. “But it was an awesome day and I gave it everything on the front nine. I just couldn't quite get the putts to drop on the back nine. Just to come up head-to-head with someone of Rory's quality was absolutely awesome and something that will stick with me for a long time.”

McIlroy’s latest victory - his 12th on The European Tour - continued his love affair with Dubai, the city where he won his first European Tour title back in 2009.

And after picking up more than $2.5 million in prize-money and Bonus Pool earnings, the European Number One will enjoy a well earned eight-week break before picking up his clubs again in Dubai in January.

“My aim was to come here to win The Race to Dubai title and try and win this tournament again,” he said.

“The money doesn't motivate me the way trophies do. I'm not saying that money's not important. It obviously is. But there are more things important to me and one is collecting trophies, putting tournaments on my resume and I was able to do that this week.”

Danny Willett, McIlroy’s main rival for The Race to Dubai crown going into the final event of the season, made an early charge before the Englishman bogeyed two of his last three holes to drop to 13 under and a share of fourth, with South Africa’s Branden Grace - who closed with a 67 - securing third on his own at 15 under.

One of the shots of the day came from Italy’s Francesco Molinari who provided the only hole-in-one of the week when he holed his seven-iron tee shot on the 17-yard par three sixth - the 46th and last hole-in-one of The European Tour season.

It helped the Italian to a round of four under 68 and a tie for fourth place alongside Willett, Byeong Hun An, Emiliano Grillo, Charl Schwartzel and Matthew Fitzpatrick on 13 under par 271.
 
The 2015 DP World Tour Championship witnessed a record 65,280 people flocking to Jumeirah Golf Estates to enjoy what has become one of best loved sporting and social events on the calendar.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.