Fleetwood has been in scintillating form in recent months, but he couldn’t catch an inspired Rai, who birdied the first playoff hole to secure his first DP World Tour title since the 2020 Scottish Open, where, curiously, he also defeated Fleetwood in a playoff. The victory vaulted Rai to ninth in the Race to Dubai standings and underlined the depth of European golf talent.
McIlroy Inches Closer to Season-Ending Honours
Rory McIlroy is the Michael Myers of European golf: he gets where he needs to be while expending minimal energy. At Yas Links, McIlroy seemed content hovering near Race to Dubai challenger Marco Penge. But on Sunday, he locked in, going full berserker mode to shoot his season-best DP World Tour round a 62. That surge propelled him into a tie for third and strengthened his grip on a seventh Harold Vardey Trophy (and fourth in succession).
Monty Nostalgia
Colin Montgomerie currently holds the all-time European Order of Merit record with eight titles. Growing up during Monty’s era of dominance, I remember the burly Scottish curmudgeon thriving in a time when top European players largely stayed in Europe, venturing Stateside only for Majors or select events. The European Tour was a more viable stage before Tiger Woods’ reign and the rise of the FedEx Cup.
Monty claimed eight Order of Merit crowns despite only ten top ten finishes in Majors. For context, McIlroy already has 34 top ten Major finishes. His European dominance feels even more impressive given that he spends much of his time competing for the biggest honours on the PGA Tour. Still, there’s a pang of nostalgia for the days when Europe’s leading player… actually played in Europe.
Who Can Mathematically Catch Rory at Jumeirah?
Only two players entering the DP World Tour Championship have a shot at catching McIlroy: Marco Penge and Tyrrell Hatton. Penge is the more realistic challenger but must finish at least in a three-way tie for second to have any chance of usurping the Northern Irish superstar. Penge has been a model of consistency this season, winning three titles and applying genuine pressure on the five-time Major winner.
From a European Tour perspective, it’s a shame we may see less of Penge in the future, as dual membership with the PGA Tour continues to drain talent from Europe.
Hatton Hoping for a Miracle
Rory’s Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton is the only other player with a mathematical shot at the title. But for Hatton, it’s a near-impossible task: he must win while McIlroy completely collapses on a course that suits him like few others.
Still, Hatton can take solace in simply being part of the conversation. The LIV operator barely played enough events to qualify for the season-ending playoffs but still sits third in the Race to Dubai standings. His early-season Dubai win was bolstered by top-five finishes at the US Open, BMW PGA Championship, and Alfred Dunhill Links. Hatton’s trajectory suggests he may finally be building towards true Major contention.