Rory McIlroy clinches European No1 spot at DP World Tour Championship

Northern Irishman tops Order of Merit while Jon Rahm claims title at Jumeirah Golf Estates

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  Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy celebrates after winning the Race to Dubai. He carded a final round 68 to finish 16 under at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai on November 20,2022. AFP

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  Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy celebrates in Dubai. Getty

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  Jon Rahm celebrates after winning the DP World Tour Championship. Getty

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  Jon Rahm with Rory McIlroy on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Getty

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  Spain's Jon Rahm on his way to a two-shot victory in Dubai. He carded a final round 67 to finish 20 under par. Getty

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  Rory McIlroy on the third hole during final round of the DP World Tour Championship where he finished in fourth place. AFP

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  Jon Rahm celebrates on the 18th green after winning the DP World Tour Championship. Getty

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  England's Tyrrell Hatton after missing a putt on the 14th green. He carded a final round 66 to finish 18 under in Dubai. Getty

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  Sweden's Alex Noren on the 15th tee in Dubai. He carded a final round 67 to finish 18 under. Getty

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  England's Tommy Fleetwood on the first tee. He carded a final round 69 to finish 13 under. Getty

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  Matt Fitzpatrick of England on the fourth tee in Dubai. He carded a final round 73 to finish 13 under. Getty

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  Ryan Fox of New Zealand on the fourth tee. He carded a final round 86 to finish five under. Getty

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  Rory Mcilroy carded a final round 68 to finish 16 under. Getty

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  Jon Rahm plays his shot from the 15th tee. Getty

Rory McIlroy cemented his status as golf’s leading player by claiming the Harry Vardon Trophy in Dubai.

The Northern Irishman capped a remarkably consistent season, in which he reclaimed the world No 1 spot and won the FedEx Cup, by finishing top of the DP World Tour rankings after the final event at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

He did fall just short of winning the DP World Tour Championship itself, having posted a final-round 68 to finish on 16-under par for the tournament.

Instead, his European Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm claimed that title, after a dominant final 18.

But McIlroy’s fourth-place finish in the season finale meant he finished top of the Order of Merit, ahead of New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.

Rahm’s title win – his third at the Earth Course ¬- was enough to give the Spaniard third-place in the rankings, while Matt Fitzpatrick ended the season fourth.

For the first two rounds of the Tour Championship, Fitzpatrick appeared the player most likely to halt McIlroy from becoming Europe’s No 1 for a fourth time.

His form cooled at the wrong time, though, and his weekend struggled were capped by an over-par final round.