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 vogue 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 slender 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 positive factors to signal for a closing 67 and end the event on 20 underneath 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 individual to realize the feat.
Rahm by no means relinquished the lead on day 4, however didn’t look completely comfy at occasions, as a collection 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 bother 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 underneath, with McIlroy two photographs additional again in fourth. Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick have been in a share of fifth place on 13 underneath, with the latter capturing a disappointing closing 73 to finish his probabilities of ending no.1 in Europe.
Rahm mentioned: “Due to COVID I by no means acquired an opportunity to defend my 2019 title and regardless that I made a decision to not come final yr, I got here with the mentality that, properly, no one beat me within the final two years, so they’ll must beat me once more. I got here in with that confidence; lots 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 folks can cease telling me that it was a foul yr. Three wins worldwide, three wins in three totally 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 vastly profitable yr 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 carried out it. Clearly that is my fourth one however it’s been some time. I’ve received three FedEx Cups for the reason that final time I received, which was The Race to Dubai again then. I used to be a mannequin of consistency the entire means by means of the yr. A number of prime finishes. I believe my worst end of the DP World Tour occasions I performed this yr was twelfth at first of the yr in Abu Dhabi. A very constant season, placing in good performances. It will have been good to get one win in there on the finish of the yr right here, however Jon clearly performed an unimaginable event and absolutely deserved it. I’m actually pleased with my yr, and excited for 2023.
He added: “One of many issues I’m actually pleased 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 if 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 only grow to be 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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