It was a weekend of high drama and raw emotion on the European Tour as Rory McIlroy experienced both defeat and a monumental career victory at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy's Bittersweet Victory
While Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy missed out on claiming the DP World Tour Championship title for a fourth time, losing to England's Matt Fitzpatrick in a thrilling play-off, he achieved something arguably more significant. The 36-year-old secured his seventh Race to Dubai title, marking his fourth consecutive victory in the season-long competition.
This historic win propelled McIlroy past the legendary Seve Ballesteros, who had previously held the record with six titles. The achievement proved overwhelmingly emotional for McIlroy, who struggled to contain his feelings during a post-tournament interview with Sky Sports.
"It's amazing," McIlroy stated, visibly moved. "I had a conversation with his [Ballesteros] wife Carmen 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 to the European Ryder Cup team. We rally so much around his spirit and his quotes and everything he meant for European golf. To equal him last year was cool but to pass him this year... didn't get this far in my dreams. It's very cool."
Shock Retirement Rocks Women's Golf
In a surprising development from the LPGA Tour, American golfer Elizabeth Szokol announced her immediate retirement from professional golf at just 30 years of age. The decision came following her participation at The Annika tournament, where she missed the cut by a single stroke.
Szokol chose to retire at Pelican Golf Club, a course where she is a member, surrounded by family and friends. "It's hard to believe it's been nine years playing, which is pretty crazy," she reflected. "It was great to retire at home... and had so many family and friends out today. So it was pretty special."
The golfer cited persistent injuries and the demanding travel schedule as primary factors behind her decision, revealing she had made the final choice in July after considering retirement for the past two years.
Mickelson's Gesture and Canter's Return
Elsewhere in the golf world, Laurie Canter completed a remarkable career resurgence by earning his PGA Tour card for 2026 after finishing the DP World Tour Championship with a score of -12. The Englishman, who had previously left the DP World Tour for LIV Golf in 2022 before returning in 2024, was one of ten players to secure their playing privileges.
His achievement drew praise from an unexpected source - six-time major champion and LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson. Taking to social media platform X, Mickelson showed his support for his former colleague, writing: "He has worked endlessly on his game and his success is well deserved."
The weekend's events highlighted the emotional peaks and valleys of professional golf, from McIlroy's historic achievement and Szokol's early retirement to the ongoing connections between players across different tours.
