'This one is for him' - Rory McIlroy dedicates record-equalling Race to Dubai title win to father after 'huge operation'

Moving level on that mark with Colin Montgomerie, though, was nerve-wracking for the Northern Irishman.

On a dramatic final day of the 2026 season, the top spot on the points list was swapped between McIlroy and Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, who’d led coming into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, a few times.

This one was special for McIlroy. He had to really dig in to finish ahead of Chacarra. The gap between them was 125 points at the finish. The Spaniard will feel hard done by, having come as close as he did in his bid to follow in the footsteps of the great Seve Ballesteros, a six-time winner, and 2019 champion Rahm.

In addition, as McIlroy revealed in an emotional interview afterwards with Sky Sports Golf, this success was secured against the backdrop of Gerry, his dad and biggest supporter, having been in hospital over the past few weeks.

“He was in my thoughts a lot,” admitted McIlroy. “He’s been in hospital for the last two months and underwent a huge operation in Sept and he’s recovering well, thankfully. When I left to come here to the Middle East, I went up to Cleveland to see him and he said to me, ‘Go win the Race to Dubai’. This one is for him.”

At one stage, McIlroy and Chacarra were separated by just 0.10 of a point before the former came up with a moment of magic that ultimately led to him claiming the Harry Vardon Trophy once more. From 128 yards at the par-4 16th, the world No 2 hit his approach at the par-4 16th to 11 inches for a fifth birdie of the day but first on the back nine.

All day long on the Earth Course, Chacarra had watched from the group behind and, in fairness, the 26-year-old, who was bidding to become just the third Spaniard to claim the Race to Dubai crown, matched McIlroy almost every step of the way in their desert battle.

Standing on the tee at the par-5 18th, McIlroy had his nose in front on the projected points list. A closing birdie and he would have been able to heave a sigh of relief in the knowledge that it would have been mission accomplished once again in the season-long title race.

Alas, after his only really poor drive of the day, the back-to-back Masters champion had to settle for a closing par, which meant a nervous wait in the media centre, where he was joined by Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm to watch the final three groups finish.

At that stage, Tyrrell Hatton had the tournament won, with the Englishman going on to secure a record-equalling sixth Rolex Series success with a commanding five-shot victory as he closed with a 66 to finish on 15 under.

McIlroy had set out on Thursday knowing that by finishing second on his own behind anyone other than Chacarra would be good enough. If he shared second, though, with just one player, then it would not have been so straightforward. Hence why there was no immediate celebration after Chacarra finished a shot behind him.

In the end, it came down to whether or not Edinburgh-based Victor Perez could make an albatross at the last, which, of course, was unlikely, but you just never know in this game. It wasn’t until that shot was hit and missed the green that McIlroy could officially be congratulated.

He landed his first Race to Dubai title in 2012 before repeating the feat in both 2014 and 2015 and now being on a run that could also threaten Montgomerie’s even more impressive record of landing seven successes in a row.