Rory McIilroy finished the year as European No.1 for the fourth time in his career – and first since 2015 – despite Jon Rahm winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The Spaniard’s two-shot victory over England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Sweden’s Alex Noren was his third in six years at Jumeirah Golf Estates and worth £2.5million.
But McIlroy finished the season top of the DP World Tour rankings after Matt Fitzpatrick, his only rival for the Harry Vardon Trophy, blew up around the turn.
But neither of those scenarios transpired as the Sheffield golfer, three off the lead playing the eighth, double-bogeyed and then dropped another shot at the tenth.
McIlroy did not need any of the fireworks of the previous day, when he powered himself into contention with a 65, and while he could have tied Rahm on 20 under had he eagled the last he could only manage par for a 68 to finish fourth.
‘It means a lot. It’s been seven years since I’ve last done it. I’ve won three FedEx Cups since I last won,’ said McIlroy, who lifted his third PGA Tour FedEx Cup in August.
‘It would have been nice to get one win in there at the end of the year but Jon played an incredible tournament and fully deserved it.’
McIlroy will now again turn his attention to ending an eight-year major drought.
‘It has taken me seven years to get my hands back on this trophy again; it’s been eight years since I won a major,’ he said.
‘If I can keep playing the way I’m playing and keep these consistent levels up I will do that.’
MORE : Matt Fitzpatrick in line to become European No.1 for the first time
MORE : Rory McIlroy says it’s time for LIV chief Greg Norman to ‘exit stage left’
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