Emotional Rory McIlroy dedicates landmark eighth Race to Dubai title to father

Rory McIlroy fought back tears as he dedicated a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title to his father Gerry after a second-placed finish behind Tyrrell Hatton at the DP World Tour Championship was enough to edge out Eugenio Chacarra.

Spaniard Chacarra had held a slender 533.93-point lead over Masters champion McIlroy going into the season finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

McIlroy, though, overturned that deficit after a blemish-free fourth round of 67 saw him finish on 10 under par, on his own in second, to take a fifth successive Race to Dubai crown, matching Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight Order of Merit titles.

Chacarra had needed to win the tournament to make sure he fended off McIlroy, as well as potentially several other big hitters in the chasing pack.

However, a final round of 69, which featured six birdies but also three bogeys either side of the turn, saw him come up just short at eight under in a tie for third, with other scores in the final groups also going McIlroy’s way over a tense back nine.

Reflecting on his achievement, McIlroy paid an emotional tribute to his father Gerry, who has been recovering in hospital following surgery at the end of September.

Fighting back tears in his post-tournament interview, McIlroy said his father had been in his thoughts “a lot”.

McIlroy said: “He has been in the hospital for the last two months. He underwent a huge operation at the end of September and he is recovering well, thankfully.

“When I left to come here to the Middle East, I went up to Cleveland to see him before I went and he said to me, ‘Go win the Race to Dubai’. This one is for him.”

Back-to-back Masters champion McIlroy also spoke of his pride at equalling Montgomerie’s record.

“Winning eight Order of Merits was never really in my list of goals when I was growing up,” the Northern Irishman said in an interview with the DP World Tour.

“I remember Monty being obviously a stalwart of the European Tour, going to watch him at the World Match Play at Wentworth over the years and remember playing with him for the first time, so to pull up alongside him and to win any of these things, it means the world to me.

“I am a very proud European, a proud European player. I am proud to be a part of the DP World Tour, and I am very proud of myself right now.”

Englishman Hatton secured his first DP World Tour Championship title at 15 under, pulling clear following his closing round of 66, which saw him take third place in the overall Race to Dubai standings.

“This is really special,” said Hatton, who claimed a sixth Rolex Series title.

“I was really nervous today. I have had a bit of heartbreak around here, and I felt like it was going to be a difficult day.

“I am just really proud of how I played on the back nine, the putter was amazing and it certainly saved me all week. It feels so good to win here.”