Matt Fitzpatrick has claimed his third title at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, securing a thrilling victory over Rory McIlroy in a play-off. The Englishman's stunning round of 66 propelled him to the top spot on 18 under par, just one stroke ahead of McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman, who had held a two-shot lead midway through the final round but faltered with bogeys on the 12th and 16th holes, left it all on the line in a tense play-off against Fitzpatrick. The outcome ultimately rested on the performances of Neergaard-Petersen and McIlroy's playing partner, who needed to hole eagle putts on the last but missed out for his counterpart.
Fitzpatrick overcame poor form early in 2025 to qualify for the Ryder Cup team and finish the year on a high with his first victory in two years. His emotional win was tinged with an air of relief as he finally broke through after struggling at the start of the year, while McIlroy, meanwhile, finished second in both the championship title and overall standings.
Fitzpatrick's performance has catapulted him to the top of the Race to Dubai standings for a fourth consecutive season. The Englishman will now look to surpass Colin Montgomerie's record of winning eight titles in the European tour's season-long race.
The Northern Irishman, who had held a two-shot lead midway through the final round but faltered with bogeys on the 12th and 16th holes, left it all on the line in a tense play-off against Fitzpatrick. The outcome ultimately rested on the performances of Neergaard-Petersen and McIlroy's playing partner, who needed to hole eagle putts on the last but missed out for his counterpart.
Fitzpatrick overcame poor form early in 2025 to qualify for the Ryder Cup team and finish the year on a high with his first victory in two years. His emotional win was tinged with an air of relief as he finally broke through after struggling at the start of the year, while McIlroy, meanwhile, finished second in both the championship title and overall standings.
Fitzpatrick's performance has catapulted him to the top of the Race to Dubai standings for a fourth consecutive season. The Englishman will now look to surpass Colin Montgomerie's record of winning eight titles in the European tour's season-long race.
and he just needed that one push to make everything click. i mean, rory mcilroy gave him a run for his money but in the end, fitzpatrick's determination paid off and now he's all eyes on that record... it's not just about the wins though, it's about the journey, the struggles, the setbacks... fitzpatrick's got this mental toughness that's hard to ignore 
.
especially after that tough start to the year. I was on the edge of my seat during that play-off against Rory McIlroy - those eagle putts were nail-biters 
and Neergaard-Petersen's missed putt was like, heartbreak for him 
. Fitzpatrick's determination is truly inspiring, he really made a comeback after struggling early in 2025 
He played so well after having a rough start to the year, it's like he was born ready 
, but in the end, Fitzpatrick's skills shone through 
. I'm literally buzzing from this win 
and can't wait to see what's next for him on the tour! 
His performance is giving me all the feels 
and he's basically unstoppable right now 
.
can't believe he finally broke through after such a rough start to the year, feels so good for him!! and now he's gunning for colin montgomerie's record 
. Can't we just enjoy the win itself without comparing it to others?
he's finally broken through after that awful start to 2025. like, two years is forever in golf, but I guess it's even longer when you're as talented as him 
. Rory McIlroy finishing second is still amazing tho, the dude's got game 
eagle putt, what could've been 
I've gotta say though, Fitzpatrick's win is a huge confidence booster for him heading into the Ryder Cup and it's gonna be sick to see him represent England on that stage. And yeah, his consistency at the top of the Race to Dubai standings is insane - Colin Montgomerie's record is within reach now! 
It was like a rollercoaster ride, my heart was racing the whole time 
. But let's be real, Fitzpatrick was on FIRE 
. Now I'm rooting for him to surpass Colin Montgomerie's record, he's got this 
!
. rory mcilroy gave it a good shot tho, but fitzpatrick's skills just took over 
gotta keep watching him compete!
! This win is like, so sweet after struggling early in 2025 
. I'm rooting for Fitzpatrick to break that record 
, but at the same time, McIlroy is always a threat to win 
. Rory McIlroy was super close, but unfortunately missed out by a hair's edge 
! He struggled at the start of 2025 but qualified for the Ryder Cup team and now he's on fire 
! Now he's got his sights set on Colin Montgomerie's record, I cant wait to see what's next for this guy 
. Rory McIlroy was so close but just couldn't get the win. I'm low-key happy for Fitzpatrick, not because he's better than McIlroy (they're both legends), but because it's about time someone broke through and gave us a bit of drama at the end! 
. One minute you're on top, two shots ahead of the competition, and the next, you're struggling to stay afloat 
. Matt Fitzpatrick could've given up after those tough holes, but he dug deep and found that inner strength to come back and win 
. Let this be a reminder that every setback is an opportunity to learn and come back stronger