European Tour: McIlroy ends season as number 1
Rory McIlroy's remarkable season reached its pinnacle as he secured his fourth DP World Tour Order of Merit title, while Jon Rahm clinched a magnificent victory at the season finale in Dubai. Rahm held off a formidable challenge from McIlroy, Alex Noren, and Tyrell Hatton to secure a record third DP World Tour Championship victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Despite Rahm's unusual inaccuracies off the tee, his near-flawless short game propelled him to a closing round 67, finishing 20 under par, two shots ahead of valiant chasers Noren and Hatton.
The week in Dubai began with Rahm and McIlroy expressing contrasting views on the new world rankings system, which saw a reduced points allocation for the field. Despite their differences, the duo shared kind words on the 18th green, where McIlroy ended the season as the world number one, securing his fourth Harry Vardon Trophy. This marked McIlroy's first Order of Merit win on the European Tour in seven years, cementing his status as one of the world's best players.