EUROPEAN TOUR
DP World Tour Championship
Morikawa Creates History in Dubai
Collin Morikawa became the first American to win the Race to Dubai after a stunning three-shot victory at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable year winning a World Golf Championship title, The Open Championship and a Rolex Series victory en route to ending the season as the European Tour’s No.1 golfer. And, he was a member of the winning US Team at the Ryder Cup.
Morikawa entered the season finale at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, with the lead in the Race to Dubai rankings. With five players hot on his tail, only victory at the Earth layout assured the two-time major winner of success in the year-long points race.
The world No. 2 ranked golfer began the final round three shots adrift of Rory McIlroy and in a tie for fifth place. After a slow start, which revealed one birdie and 10 pars over the opening 11 holes, Morikawa charged home with five birdies at the last seven holes to fire a bogey-free 6-under 66. The dramatic close out to his tournament included birdies at the last two holes to overtake McIlroy, who closed out his day with three bogeys at the final four holes.
Morikawa produced all four rounds in the 60s carding 68, 68, 69 and 66 to reach 17-under. England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Sweden’s Alexander Bjork shared second place at 14-under. Fitzpatrick, who has won the DP World Tour Championship on two occasions including in 2020, closed with a 66.
Min Woo Lee was the best of the three Australians in the field. The 23-year-old from Perth, who won the Scottish Open in July, ended at 9-under and in a tie for 16th place. Lee narrowly nudged fellow Aussie Lucas Herbert and Jason Scrivener by one shot with the pair finishing at 8-under and sharing 21st place. Lee was also the best-ranked Australian in the Race to Dubai. He took out 6th place. England’s Tyrrell Hatton (5th), Fitzpatrick (4th), Jon Rahm (3rd) and Billy Horschel (2nd) staked the minor placings.
The European Tour will resume for the 2022 season in January.
Final Scores
DP World Tour Championship
1. Collin Morikawa -17
T2. Alexander Bjork -14
T2. Matt Fitzpatrick -14
T4. Nicolai Hojgaard -13
T4. Robert MacIntyre -13
T6. Dean Burmester -12
T6. Rory McIlroy -12
T6. Ian Poulter -12
Australians
T16. Min Woo Lee -9
T21. Lucas Herbert -8
T21. Jason Scrivener -8
Photo credit: Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
