Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy celebrated with his family at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai after securing a significant victory. — AFP

Rory McIlroy clinched his third DP World Tour Championship and his sixth Race to Dubai title on Sunday, equaling the legendary Spaniard Seve Ballesteros' record. The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland made a pivotal birdie on the par-4 16th hole to break a tie with Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard. He then birdied the par-5 18th hole for a three-under-par 69, bringing his total to 15-under for the four days, securing a two-shot victory and his sixth Order of Merit.

The four-time major champion was visibly emotional on live television when asked about matching Ballesteros' record. "It's really cool. Everyone knows what Seve means to European golf. In the European Ryder Cup locker room, we have quotes of Seve," McIlroy said, noting he is now two titles behind all-time record holder Colin Montgomerie's tally of eight. "We had a Seve shirt from 1995 when he played his last Ryder Cup in our changing room last year... To be mentioned in the same breath as Seve, I am very proud."

Rasmus, who aimed to emulate his twin brother Nicolai and bring the trophy back to Denmark for a second consecutive year, made a remarkable 22-foot par save on the 17th hole but couldn't apply pressure on McIlroy on the 18th, settling for a par and a final round score of 71. McIlroy, who started with a bogey but then made four consecutive birdies, dropped a couple of shots around the turn to be tied with Hojgaard after 15 holes at 13-under. He finally took the lead with a superb second shot on the par-4 16th hole from 137 yards to less than a foot for his fifth birdie of the day and sank a six-footer on the final hole.

"I think I would have been miserable for a few weeks if I hadn't won today. I've been through a lot this year professionally and personally. It feels like the fitting end to 2024. I've persevered a lot. Had close calls. Wasn't able to get it done," McIlroy said. "So, to be able to get over the line, when I got off to a great start and didn't have my best in the middle of the round, was very satisfying. I felt a lot of pressure out there, most of them self-inflicted. But to finish the way I did, I can now go and have a good few weeks off," he added.

Including the Zurich Classic, which he won alongside Shane Lowry, it was McIlroy's fourth worldwide win of the season. Hojgaard was disappointed at not winning the title but pleased to secure the No1 card of the 10 PGA Tour cards available at the end of the week for the top 10 players who are not already members. The No1 card grants him entry into some of the major events, including the Players Championship.

"I came to Abu Dhabi (the previous week) with the goal of securing the No1 PGA Tour card, and I am happy that I have done it," said Hojgaard, who missed the card by one spot last year. "It sucks to lose, but you need to make birdies in the end and Rory did that. I battled hard through the day." Australia's Adam Scott and Ireland's Lowry shot final-round 68s to tie for third place at 11-under par alongside France's Antoine Rozner. England's Tyrrell Hatton was solo 6th at 10-under.

The 10 players who earned their PGA Tour cards are Hojgaard, Thriston Lawrence of South Africa, England's Paul Waring, Dane Niklas Norgaard, Swede Jesper Svensson, Antoine Rozner of France, Italy's Matteo Manassero, Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark, Japan's Rikuya Hoshino, and Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland.

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