Everything you need to know from day four at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
A thrilling climax to the 2022 season saw Rahm claim a record third DP World Tour Championship title, while McIlroy was crowned European Number One for a fourth time.
Here is everything you need to know from day four o the fifth Rolex Series event of the season..
Rahm makes history in Dubai
Course specialist Jon Rahm continued his love affair with this tournament as he secured a two-shot victory to make it three wins and another top-five finish in four trips to the Earth Course. He led from the front at the season finale on Sunday, beginning his fourth round with three straight birdies before bouncing back from his bogey on the fourth with three more gains to see off a chasing pack that included Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren and Rory McIlroy. As well as being the first person to win the event three times, Rahm is now the only player to have won five Rolex Series titles. Well done, Jon.
McIlroy is Number One
Rory McIlroy won the other prize on offer this week, topping the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex to win the Harry Vardon Trophy for the fourth time. He had started the week in top spot but a wonderful first two rounds from Matt Fitzpatrick meant he trailed the U.S. Open Champion in the projected standings going into the weekend. But the Northern Irishman closed with rounds of 65 and 68 to finish ahead of Fitzpatrick and cap a hugely successful year by becoming the European Number One, World Number One and FedExCup Champion at the same time for the first time in his career.
Fox ready for Augusta after stellar 2022
Ryan Fox was looking forward to making his Masters Tournament debut after coming within touching distance of history in the 2022 season. The Kiwi won twice and had eight other top tens to enter the season-ending DP World Tour Championship just over 128 points behind McIlroy in the Rankings. He could not overturn the four-time Major Champion but, now firmly placed inside the world's top 30, he can look forward to an invitation to Augusta National. "That's one I've been wanting for a long time, since before I turned pro," he said. "I guess a couple of years ago, I probably thought I was getting a bit old and it was going to be a little bit too hard. "But to get it done this year is amazing and I have a few mates who are looking forward to a trip to Augusta next year, that's for sure."
Noren shows his class
Alex Noren might not have managed to return to the winner’s circle on Sunday, but everything points to the Swede being back to somewhere near his best. The 40-year-old last won on the DP World Tour at the 2018 Open de France but was largely in full control of all aspects of his game throughout all four days in Dubai. His share of second place with Tyrrell Hatton was his third runner-up finish in his last three DP World Tour starts, following on from the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and Barracuda Championship. He spoke after the third round of his delight at his impressive driving, but his putting also stood out in his first visit back to the DP World Tour Championship since 2018. After finishing the season 13th on the year-long standings in Europe, the 2018 Ryder Cup member has plenty of reasons for optimism of what could soon come his way.
Meronk enjoys fine finish to stellar campaign
With the top of the leaderboard dominated by established European Ryder Cup players, one with aspirations of playing his part in Italy next year was Adrian Meronk. Birdies on each of the closing four holes helped the Pole finish in a share of seventh place alongside fellow Team Europe hopeful Rasmus Højgaard after a one-under-par 71. Meronk broke par on each of the four days in his second appearance at the season finale to cap a memorable campaign in which he has unquestionably caught the eye. Beginning the week in ninth place on the year-long standings, he moved up by one place after his eighth top ten of the campaign. On the cusp of climbing into the top 50 on the world rankings, Meronk will not forget 2022 in a hurry.
