Rahm wins Tour Championship as McIlroy seals title as Europe’s no.1Nick BaylyGolf Information

The DP World Tour’s 2022 season drew to an in depth in dramatic trend as Jon Rahm, the third spherical chief of the season-ending Tour Championship, held off Ryder Cup team-mates Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren and Rory McIlroy to win by two photographs.

Jon Rahm shot a closing 68 to win the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai by two photographs

The Spaniard went into the ultimate spherical with a slim one-stroke lead, however reeled off three opening birdies to stretch that benefit earlier than bouncing again from a bogey on the fourth with three extra good points to signal for a closing 67 and end the match on 20 beneath par.

Rahm’s victory continues his love affair with Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course, the place he now has three wins and one other top-five end in 4 visits. He additionally provides a fifth Rolex Collection title to his assortment, changing into the primary particular person to realize the feat.

Rahm by no means relinquished the lead on day 4, however didn’t look completely comfy at instances, as a sequence of missed fairways gave hope to his challengers who have been queuing up behind him. He took a two-shot result in the final however an errant tee-shot landed him in tree hassle and he solely simply cleared the penalty space together with his second shot. However his gamble paid off as he two-putted for par on the 18th inexperienced to storm to victory.

Tyrrell Hatton and Alex Noren completed in a tie for second on 18 beneath, with McIlroy two photographs additional again in fourth. Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick have been in a share of fifth place on 13 beneath, with the latter capturing a disappointing closing 73 to finish his possibilities of ending no.1 in Europe.

Rahm mentioned: “Due to COVID I by no means acquired an opportunity to defend my 2019 title and despite the fact that I made a decision to not come final 12 months, I got here with the mentality that, nicely, no one beat me within the final two years, so they’ll need to beat me once more. I got here in with that confidence; a number of similarities to the previous. Final time I received right here I began the ultimate spherical at 15-under. I had a heck of a entrance 9 and shot 20-under to win it. I like this course and this course likes me. I hope that is third of many extra. Hopefully individuals can cease telling me that it was a foul 12 months. Three wins worldwide, three wins in three completely different continents, yeah, it wasn’t a significant championship, however it’s nonetheless a extremely, actually good season.”

McIlroy received the opposite prize on provide this week, topping the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex to win the Harry Vardon Trophy for the fourth time. The Northern Irishman capped a massively profitable 12 months by changing into the European no.1, world no.1 and FedExCup champion on the identical time for the primary time in his profession.

McIlroy mentioned: “It means rather a lot. It’s been seven years since I’ve final performed it. Clearly that is my fourth one however it’s been some time. I’ve received three FedEx Cups because the final time I received, which was The Race to Dubai again then. I used to be a mannequin of consistency the entire approach via the 12 months. Plenty of high finishes. I believe my worst end of the DP World Tour occasions I performed this 12 months was twelfth firstly of the 12 months in Abu Dhabi. A extremely constant season, placing in good performances. It will have been good to get one win in there on the finish of the 12 months right here, however Jon clearly performed an unbelievable match and absolutely deserved it. I’m actually happy with my 12 months, and excited for 2023.

He added: “One of many issues I’m actually happy with over the previous couple of years is I don’t really feel I’ve to depend on one facet of my recreation. I believe if my driving isn’t there, then my putter bails me out. If my putter isn’t there, my iron play bails me out. I really feel like whenever you get to this stage, it’s like, okay, how will you make these incremental enhancements to get higher, and I believe my purpose has been to simply develop into a extra full golfer and I really feel like I’m on the journey to doing that. I’m as full a golfer as I really feel like I’ve ever been, and hopefully I can proceed on that path.”

 

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