Rory McIlroy has won the DP World Tour Championship and with it a sixth Race to Dubai crown of his career.
In the end McIlroy, on 15 under, had two shots to spare over Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard, who in September just got the better of the Holywood native to win the Irish Open.
The pair, alongside Antoine Rozner, had a share of the lead on 12 under ahead of the final round but the latter would not keep pace.
McIlroy began the day with a bogey but went on to birdie the next four holes before giving one back on the ninth. Hojgaard also started with a dropped shot at the first but birdied two and seven to keep on the heels of McIlroy. The Dane parred his remaining holes.
Another dropped shot for McIlroy on 13 and the duo were again tied with five to play.
The winner valiantly saved par at the 15th hole before hitting his approach inside a foot at the next to card his first birdie in 11 holes and nudge ahead of his rival.
Hojgaard holed a clutch par putt at the 17th to remain one behind but when he failed to find the cup with a birdie effort at the last, McIlroy had two attempts for victory.
He only needed one putt to seal the two-shot success at Jumeirah Golf Estates and complete the end-of-season double - his third Tour Championship success.
Tom McKibbin tells Rory McIlroy that he'll be joining him on the PGA TOUR 🥹
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 17, 2024
The 21-year-old claimed the final dual membership spot.#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/c6cUFdBfvm
McIlroy was pleased to "get over the line" after winning The DP World Tour Championship, telling Sky Sports: "It means a lot. I've been through a lot this year professionally and personally.
"It feels like a fitting end to 2024 – I’ve persevered this year a lot, had close calls, wasn’t able to get it done. So to be able to get over the line…I hung on and got the job done."
Shane Lowry, after a closing 68, shared third spot on 11 under. The other Irish competitor, Tom McKibbin, was joint-11th on eight under after he shot 72 - and that was enough to secure the 21-year-old his PGA Tour card.
