Double win for Rory McIlroy in Dubai

McIlroy entered the final round of the DP World Tour Championship sitting one back of leader Andy Sullivan.

After a long wait at the 17th, McIlroy missed the green by a considerable margin and ended up in the water.

It has been an incredible year for both South Yorkshire golfers, with Fitzpatrick coming in 12th in the Race to Dubai in this his first season on the Tour.

Eight birdies adorned his final round of 66 to see him finish 21 under par, one shot clear of Andy Sullivan, to finish the year as Europe’s top player.

The 26-yr-previous 5-time Major champion received 1,333,330 euros ($ 1419796.forty five) for his win that additionally secured his prime spot within the European Order of Merit. “I think I’ve done pretty well this season and now I can rest without pressure”. It caps the year off nicely. “I’m really excited about next season”.

“I gave it everything on that front nine, I just couldn’t quite get the putts to drop on the back nine”.

And the brain fade at 17?

“Maybe one shot better and I’d have taken him to a play-off”, he added. “I holed a big putt at the Ryder Cup last year on 17 to keep a match alive and I holed a couple of big putts this year at the [WGC- Cadillac] Match Play”, he said. To go head to head with someone of Rory’s quality was absolutely awesome and something that will stick with me for a long time. Had a great year.

McIlroy’s third and final tournament win of the 2015 season ensured he also prevailed in the Race to Dubai (RTD), thereby replicating the same feat he achieved three years ago now.

“It is incredibly tough to play against a player like Rory”. I don’t know what it was like to watch but it was incredible to be a part of that. “I thought I’ve got a chance again”, said Sullivan. I expected him to hole it after that and he did.

“To be European No1, yeah, that was a goal of mine at the start of the year”.

England’s Danny Willett, who started the tournament mere 1,613 points behind McIlroy in the Race to Dubai and needing to beat him to become the European No. 1 for the first time in his career, finished tied for fourth on 13 under (275). “But if I hadn’t won today, especially the position I found myself on the back nine, I wouldn’t have been too happy”.

Now that the season is over, numerous players have a few weeks off, where they will all be going home and also preparing for the season ahead, and for Rory, he will be heading home with the Harry Vardon trophy in his suitcase, along with a seven year European Tour Card exemption.