Matt Fitzpatrick claims his third DP World Tour Championship title as Rory McIlroy secures the Race to Dubai crown.
Fitzpatrick triumphs in dramatic DP World Tour Championship playoff
Matt Fitzpatrick emerged victorious at the 2025 DP World Tour Championship after a dramatic playoff against Rory McIlroy. The Englishman carded back-to-back 66s over the weekend to force a playoff and ultimately secure his third win at the season finale. Despite not playing his best in the final round, Fitzpatrick stayed patient and put himself in position. When McIlroy bogeyed the 16th, Fitzpatrick, who remained bogey-free, had a chance to take the outright lead with a birdie on 18. He made it, but knew McIlroy could still force extra holes. \”He’s one of the few players where, even with a two-shot lead, you expect a playoff,\” Fitzpatrick said.
McIlroy, who started the final round tied for the lead, held strong for most of the day. But a costly bogey on 16, after finding the fairway bunker and failing to reach the green, set him back. His birdie attempt on 17 lipped out, and with Fitzpatrick posting a birdie on 18, McIlroy needed an eagle to tie. Memories of his dramatic win at the Irish Open resurfaced, and with help from Neergaard-Petersen reading the line, McIlroy drained a five-meter eagle putt to force a playoff.
McIlroy’s eagle forces playoff, but Fitzpatrick prevails
In the playoff, McIlroy mishit his tee shot, finding the creek along the 18th. Fitzpatrick, who landed in the rough, held the advantage. McIlroy’s approach left him a similar distance to his regulation eagle putt, but this time he came up just short. Fitzpatrick calmly made par to seal the win. \”It means the world to me,\” said Fitzpatrick. \”I had a tough start to the year, but I’m proud of how I turned it around and how I played in the Ryder Cup.\”
Despite the playoff loss, McIlroy secured the Race to Dubai title for the seventh time overall and fourth consecutive season, surpassing Seve Ballesteros. \”He means so much to this Tour and the European Ryder Cup team. To tie him last year was cool, but to surpass him this year—something I never dreamed of,\” McIlroy reflected.
Neergaard-Petersen and von Dellingshausen finish strong
Neergaard-Petersen narrowly missed the playoff but finished tied for third, moving up to 15th in the Race to Dubai and earning one of ten PGA Tour cards awarded at season’s end. Nicolai von Dellingshausen finished 22nd after improving by one stroke on the final day. Despite late bogeys on 16 and 17 due to bunker trouble, it marks his best Race to Dubai finish, boosted by his win in Austria. He made 17 cuts in 30 events during the 2025 season.