Rory McIlroy described surpassing Seve Ballesteros with a seventh Race to Dubai title as more than he ever dreamed of, despite losing in a playoff to Matt Fitzpatrick at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The Northern Irishman staged a dramatic late fightback with an eagle at the 72nd hole to force extra holes, but Fitzpatrick prevailed to claim his third win in the event.
McIlroy's seventh season-long crown moves him one ahead of the late Ballesteros's tally of six and one behind record-holder Colin Montgomerie. Speaking to Sky Sports, an emotional McIlroy said: 'It's amazing, I had a conversation with Carmen [Ballesteros's ex-wife] before I went out to play today and she told me how proud he would have been. He means so much to this tour and the European Ryder Cup team.'
McIlroy also set his sights on Montgomerie's record, adding: 'I want it [eight titles], of course I do. I was the first European to win the grand slam and I would love to be the European with the most wins in terms of the order of merit and season-long races.'
Fitzpatrick, who started the final day one shot behind McIlroy and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, carded a bogey-free 66 to set the clubhouse target. McIlroy needed an eagle on the last to force a playoff, which he achieved with a putt from about 15 feet. However, Fitzpatrick triumphed in the playoff after both players missed the green with their approach shots.
Fitzpatrick said: 'He [McIlroy] is one of only a few where you know you are going to a playoff. You are two clear with one to play and you know you are going to a playoff because he did it again in typical Rory fashion.' Tommy Fleetwood tied for third alongside Neergaard-Petersen and others, while Tyrrell Hatton, who had a faint hope of denying McIlroy the Race to Dubai title, finished in a share of 14th.
