Ahead of the 12th edition of the DP World Tour Championship, we look at back at five of the most memorable final rounds from the season-ending event on the European Tour.
2012: Justin Rose’s course record 62
During the fourth edition of the DP World Tour Championship, Justin Rose produced a Sunday to remember when he recorded a final round 62 (-10) on the Earth Course, setting the course record and the clubhouse target.
The Englishman played the last six holes in six under with an eagle on the 14th and four birdies, which included an impressive two-putt gain from the back of the 18th green to secure the lowest round of his European Tour career. It looked to be stopping on the top of the ridge, but then trickled down to the side of the hole for the easiest of tap-in birdies.
"I knew it was hero or zero there," said the Englishman. "I was one roll away from looking like an idiot.
"I actually got goosebumps. I thought it was going to go in for a second."
In the end, a stunning display over the last five holes from Rory McIlroy – who had also won the US PGA Championship that year – left Rose two shots short, but it was still one of the most memorable rounds in DP World Tour Championship history. His runner-up finish moved Rose to a career high of World Number four at the time, which knocked Lee Westwood out of the top four for the first time in three years.
2013: Henrik Stenson sets tournament record
Topping off a remarkable resurgent season that included US success, a runner-up finish at the Open Championship and third place at the US PGA, Stenson knew that a victory in the final event of the season would see him crowned European Number One for the first time.
The Swede, who entered the final round with a one-stroke lead, immediately cemented his position at the top of the leaderboard with three birdies in his first five holes. He added three more birdies at the seventh, 12th and 14th holes before signing off with a tap-in eagle for a flawless closing 64 and a six stroke victory – setting a tournament-record total of 25 under par.
"I played so well this week,” he said afterwards. “I knew the guys would try to catch me, especially Ian who never gives up. I wanted to stay ahead of him and I managed to do that. It has been a dream season.”
Stenson’s victory helped secure his place in the 2014 Ryder Cup squad, and he would go on to win the title again in 2016 – the same year he became the first Swedish male player to win a Major championship.
Henrik Stenson's 3-wood into 18 in 2013...
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2015: Rory McIlroy crowned European Number One for second time
Rory McIlroy arrived at Jumeirah Golf Estates in 2015 knowing that a victory would not only give him a second triumph on the Earth Course but also a second consecutive European Tour crown.
The Northern Irishman started the final round one shot behind overnight leader Andy Sullivan, and the pair went toe-to-toe over the final afternoon of the European Tour season, each recording three under par front-nines and matching birdies at the 11th.
From there, the 2012 champion made a move, tying the lead with a birdie at the 12th before pulling ahead by two shots with back-to-back gains at the 14th and 15th. Late drama occurred when McIlroy found the water on the 17th, but despite a bogey at the penultimate hole, a par at 18 left him signing for a six-under 66 and one shot ahead of Sullivan on 21-under-par.
"It means an awful lot." McIlroy had said after being crowned European Number One for a third time. "I had to play so well over the weekend. Dubai has been a pretty sweet place for me"
2017: Rahm wins Rookie of the year & DP World Tour Championship
Jon Rahm made history in 2017 when he claimed Rookie of the Year honours and became the first player to win multiple Rolex Series titles at the DP World Tour Championship.
The Spaniard, who earned his first victory during his European Tour debut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation, played his way into contention over the first three days to sit one shot behind 54-hole leader Justin Rose.
Rahm made a solid start to his final round with birdies on the third and the seventh holes, but still found himself three behind Rose at the turn and seemingly in need of an impressive back-nine. He narrowed the gap a shot closer with a birdie at the 10th, and by the 14th an up and down from the bunker saw him take a share of the lead as mistakes began to count up for the leader.
With closing drama simultaneously happening around the race for European Number One between Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose, Rahm made his move for the DP World Tour title. A sublime recovery from a wayward tee shot on the 16th earned him a fifth birdie of the day for the outright lead, before parring his way in for closing 67 and a one stroke victory over Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shane Lowry.
"It's hard to sum it up," said Rahm, who went bogey free for his final 36 holes. "An incredible week, I could not be more proud of what I've done this week. It could be very easy to just be content with getting the award and just being here and trying to play the best.
"I didn't plan on being here at the beginning of the year and I sure didn't plan on winning it so it's an incredible feeling."
2018: Danny Willett returns to the winner's circle
Danny Willett ended a wait of 953 days with a triumphant return of the winner's circle during a dramatic final day at the 2018 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
Willett entered the final round in a tie for the lead but quickly pulled ahead by taking advantage of the par-five second, hitting the green in two and holing a stunning 47-foot double-breaker for an eagle.
He added a birdie at the seventh to lead at the turn but then two early bogeys on the back-nine threatened to derail his round, and left him in a tie at the top with Matt Wallace. Willett managed to recover both of those shots at the 14th and 15th, before hitting his tee shot at the par three 17th to five feet to set up his final birdie of the day, before parring the 18th for a two shot victory over Wallace and reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed.
The victory was a defining one for the Englishman, who had dealt with injuries and an admitted lack of form saw that saw him drop as low as 462nd in the Official World Golf Ranking, and marked a notable return to form.
“It's been a lot of hard work,” said an emotional Willett. “It's been tough. I'm just massively proud of myself and everyone that's been around me.
"You never quite know when a win is around the corner and with all the things that have happened, I was never quite sure if it was going to happen again."
