McIlroy "Also Crowned European Champion"... Ram 'Wins Final Match'

McIlroy Finishes 4th at DP World Tour Championship, Wins Race to Dubai
Rah Secures 9th European Tour Victory, Noren and Hatton Tied for 2nd, Fitzpatrick Tied for 5th

Rory McIlroy is making an approach shot on the 1st hole on the final day of the DP World Tour Championship. Dubai (United Arab Emirates) = Photo by AFP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), world No. 1, has been crowned European champion.

On the 20th (local time), McIlroy finished 4 under par on the final day of the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) Championship (total prize money $10 million) at the Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course (par 72, 7,706 yards) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), securing 4th place (16 under par, 272 strokes). McIlroy topped the ‘Race to Dubai,’ which ranks players based on points accumulated throughout the year. This is his fourth time winning the title, following 2012, 2014, and 2015.

In August, McIlroy won the Tour Championship, the final event of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup Playoffs, marking his third FedEx Cup victory after 2016 and 2019. This was his third PGA Tour win of the season and 22nd overall. McIlroy became the second player in history, after Henrik Stenson (Sweden) in 2013, to simultaneously dominate both the American and European tours.

Dubai is a ‘promised land’ for McIlroy. He claimed his first DP World Tour victory at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic and topped the leaderboard at this tournament again in 2012 and 2015. McIlroy exclaimed, "I’m happy to be champion in both the U.S. and Europe," adding, "I’m proud of myself."

Jon Rahm (Spain) shot 5 under par to secure a 2-stroke victory (20 under par, 268 strokes). This was his ninth DP World Tour win and his third victory at this event. Alex Noren (Sweden) and Tyrrell Hatton tied for 2nd place (18 under par, 270 strokes), while Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood (both England) tied for 5th place (13 under par, 275 strokes). The DP World Tour will kick off the 2023 season with the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and the Johannesburg Open, starting on the 24th.