McIlroy wins fifth Race to Dubai without hitting a shot
Rory McIlroy claimed the Race to Dubai for the fifth time without hitting a ball after Adrian Meronk failed to finish in the top three at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.
The Pole needed to hold on to third place in Sun City to have a mathematical chance of overhauling McIlroy in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai this week but finished tied 15th behind American Max Homa.
McIlroy has an unassailable lead in the Race to Dubai and has now set his sights on Colin Montgomerie’s record eight titles.
After adding the 2023 title to wins in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2022, McIlroy said: “Winning the Race to Dubai title for the fifth time is an incredible honour and another important milestone in my career.
“Capturing the Ryder Cup in Rome was a highlight this year, and adding this title makes it all the more special.
“I still have distance to cover to reach Colin’s tally in the order of merit. That inspires me to give my best in the upcoming years.”
Homa closed with a six-under 66 to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge by four shots from Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.
The world number eight eagled the ninth to go out in five-under 31.
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He dropped a shot at the 11th but birdied the 15th and 16th to win going away on 19-under.
Galgorm’s Tom McKibbin shot a two-over 74 to finish tied 33rd on one-under and remain 41st in the Race to Dubai.
On the PGA Tour, Colombia’s Camilo Villegas earned his first win since 2014 when he closed with a bogey-free, six-under 65 to win the Butterfield Bermuda Championship by two strokes from Sweden’s Alex Noren, who shot 68, on 24-under-par.
At the Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, world number one Lilia Vu shot a four-under 66 to claim her fourth win of the season by three shots in 19-under as Leona Maguire made an eagle and three birdies in her 66 to finish tied 38th on six-under heading into this week’s CME Group Tour Championship.
Meanwhile, Graeme McDowell finished six shots behind New Zealand's Ben Campbell in his bid for his first win for nearly four years at the Asian Tour’s Hong Kong Open.
The Portrush star (44) closed with a one-under 69 to finish tied 12th ($30,566) on 13-under par.
At the Final Stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School, Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell fired a five-under 66 on the Lakes Course at Infinitum in Tarragona to move up to 36th on six-under after three rounds.
He’s two strokes outside the top 25 and ties who will be awarded tour cards after six rounds.
But the other five Irishmen in action have their work cut out to make the 72-hole cut today.
Mount Juliet’s Mark Power is three strokes outside the crucial top 70 and ties after a third-round 69 at the Lakes.
The Kilkenny star (20) was five under with four holes to play but double-bogeyed the 15th and bogeyed the 17th to fall back to 104th on one-under.
Naas’ Conor O’Rourke is a shot further back in 109th after a three-under 68 at the Lakes with Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell 122nd on one-over after a 67.
Derry’s Ruaidhri McGee shot 73 at the Lakes to share 129th on two-over, while Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy is 143rd on five-over after a 72, also on the Lakes.
Italy’s Filippo Celli shot a six-under 66 on the Hills to lead by two shots from Spain’s Sebastian Garcia on 16-under.
On the PGA Tour Champions, Padraig Harrington closed with a two-under 69 to finish tied fourth on 14-under in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
The Dubliner ended the week four strokes behind New Zealand’s Steven Alker, who shot a one-under 70 to win by a shot from Stephen Ames and Alex Cejka on 18-under.
