Rory McIlroy won his record-tying eighth Race to Dubai title Sunday, surpassing Eugenio Chacarra on the final day of the DP World Tour Championship.
Chacarra entered the tour’s finale leading the season-long points race and was tied with McIlroy heading into the final round at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
It not only came down to the final round of the final event, but also the final hole — the par-5 18th on the Earth Course.
With McIlroy holding second place at 10 under, the world’s No. 2 flailed his drive to the right and had to pitch out. His third shot, a 4-iron from 225 yards, caught the green but he was unable to make the 20-footer for birdie.
It was a 5-birdie, no-bogey 67 for McIlroy. But Chacarra still had a chance. After saving par on the 17th to remain at 8 under and in a tie for fourth, the Spaniard laced his drive at the last. Needing eagle to win the Race, Chacarra left his approach shot in a greenside bunker and he settled for par.
With leaderboard positioning the key, Mikael Lindberg could have played a crucial role in determining the champion had he forced a tie for second with McIlroy. The Swede, however, bogeyed the 17th hole to drop to 8 under and then bogeyed 18, where he needed eagle.
Victor Perez, who was at 7 under, also could have helped Chacarra’s cause with an albatross at the last but his 5-iron from 216 yards never had a chance.
This is the fifth consecutive Race to Dubai title for McIlroy and his eighth overall. That latter number ties Colin Montgomerie — who won eight “Order of Merit” titles during his career — for most all-time.