Rory McIlroy tears up dedicating Race to Dubai title to father in hospital: ‘This one’s for him’

Résumé détaillé

Rory McIlroy flew to the Middle East in a quest to make more history and with the words of his hospital-bound father providing extra motivation.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy flew to the Middle East two weeks ago in a quest to make more golfing history and with the parting words of his hospital-bound father, Gerry, providing extra motivation.

McIlroy added another significant achievement to his bulging resumé Sunday, capturing the season-long Race to Dubai title on the European tour for a record-tying eighth time on what proved to be a dramatic and emotional finale to the World Tour Championship that was won easily by Tyrrell Hatton.

McIlroy finished second — five shots behind Hatton — but, crucially, one place ahead of Eugenio Chacarra in his tense duel with the rising star from Spain.

That meant McIlroy gained enough points — a measly 125.07, to be precise — to leapfrog Chacarra in the Race to Dubai standings and join Colin Montgomerie atop the all-time list of winners of the award, previously called the “Order of Merit.”

With the title wrapped up, McIlroy made a video call to his family and was heard saying, “Stress, stress, stress.” He was referring to the final round on the Earth course but could easily have been talking about the last few months, during which Gerry underwent a double-lung transplant in Cleveland, Ohio.

“I spent nine days in the ICU with him while he was recovering,” McIlroy said of the aftermath of an operation he said was “a success.” “You know, if things were not looking as good as they were, I probably wouldn’t have felt comfortable travelling or being too far away.”

McIlroy wept as he talked about how his father, who took extra jobs to help finance his son’s promising junior golf career, would be proud.

Hatton started Sunday with a one-shot lead and extended it in shooting 6-under 66 to finish on 15-under par and become the second straight former LIV Golf player to win a big event on the European tour, after Jon Rahm in Abu Dhabi last week.

“I will definitely enjoy Christmas now,” said Hatton, who will be back on the European tour for good for the 2027 season after the demise…

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