With his first victory in two years at the DP World Tour Championship, Matt Fitzpatrick joined Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy in an exclusive club as a three-time winners of the season-ending showpiece.
Between them, the three Ryder Cup stars have dominated the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, capturing nine of the last 13 editions of the finale. In that span, McIlroy has claimed the Race to Dubai crown seven times, which is second only to Colin Montgomerie, who has eight Order of Merit titles.
Here’s a closer look at how each of their wins unfolded.
| Player | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | 3 | 2012, 2015, 2024 |
| Jon Rahm | 3 | 2017, 2019, 2022 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | 3 | 2016, 2020, 2025 |
Rory McIlroy
2012
The then World Number One Rory McIlroy capped off a remarkable season with his first DP World Tour Championship victory. Playing alongside World Number Two Luke Donald, he held firm despite a record-breaking 62 from Justin Rose that threatened to derail his lap of honour. McIlroy’s composure carried him through, sealing the win in a year where he also claimed the US PGA Championship and his second Race to Dubai title.
2015
Three years later, McIlroy returned to Dubai to capture his second crown on the Earth Course. Locked in a duel with Andy Sullivan, he produced a decisive surge with four birdies in five holes from the 11th. A stumble into the water at 17 added late tension, but a composed par at the last secured a closing 66 and a 21-under total. The one-shot victory delivered not only the tournament title but also his third Race to Dubai, reinforcing his reputation as Europe’s leading force.
*2024
*Nine years after his second triumph, McIlroy’s third win was an emotional one. Sharing the lead after the first and third rounds, he seized control on Sunday with a run of four straight birdies from the second to move three clear. Though Rasmus Højgaard briefly held a share of the lead, McIlroy responded with clutch birdies at 16 and 18 to close with a 69 (-3). The two-shot victory crowned him champion once again in at Jumeirah Golf Estates and secured his sixth Race to Dubai title, a testament to his enduring brilliance and longevity at the top of the sport.
2016
At just 22, Fitzpatrick claimed his first DP World Tour Championship and third career title in thrilling fashion. Trailing Tyrrell Hatton by one shot on the 18th tee, he held his nerve while Hatton faltered with a bogey. Fitzpatrick seized the moment with a birdie at the last, finishing at 17-under to secure a one-stroke victory and announce himself as one of Europe’s brightest young stars.
2020
Four years later, Fitzpatrick delivered a commanding performance on the Earth Course. Starting the final round tied for the lead, he surged ahead with four consecutive birdies in his opening four holes, adding another at the seventh. A run of steady pars followed, broken only by a bogey at 17, but his early fireworks proved decisive. He closed at 15-under, one shot clear of Lee Westwood, who claimed the Race to Dubai title.
*2025
*Fitzpatrick’s third triumph came in dramatic style, as he defeated Rory McIlroy in only the second-ever play-off at the event. Echoing his clutch finish in 2016, he birdied the final hole for a bogey-free 66, setting the clubhouse target at 18-under. McIlroy forced extra holes with a brilliant eagle at 18, but in the play-off he found water off the tee and could only make bogey. Fitzpatrick’s superb up-and-down from the back of the green secured par — and with it, his third DP World Tour Championship crown — while McIlroy claimed his seventh Race to Dubai title.
2017
In his rookie season, Rahm announced himself in spectacular fashion. Awarded the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, he captured the DP World Tour Championship on his very first start in Dubai. Already a Rolex Series winner at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open earlier that year, Rahm became the first player to claim multiple Rolex Series titles in a single season. A closing 67, with a back-nine of 33, took him to 19-under and secured a one-shot victory over Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shane Lowry. Justin Rose faltered late, while Tommy Fleetwood claimed the Race to Dubai crown.
2019
Two years later, Rahm delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in tournament history. Leading by six after seven holes, he was suddenly under pressure as Tommy Fleetwood surged with birdies on three of his last four to set the clubhouse target at 18-under. Standing tied at the top on the final hole, Rahm found the greenside bunker with his second shot but produced a nerveless escape to four feet. He rolled in the putt to seal victory at 19-under and, with it, his first Race to Dubai title as European Number One.
2022
Rahm’s third triumph was historic. Entering the final round with a slender one-shot lead, he immediately stamped his authority with three consecutive birdies. Despite a bogey at the fourth, he responded with three more gains to keep challengers Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren, and Rory McIlroy at bay. A composed closing 67 saw him finish at 20-under, two clear of the field, and in doing so he became the first player to win five Rolex Series titles — cementing his reputation as the king of Dubai.
