Rory McIlroy lost out to Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff at the DP World Tour Championship, but he topped the Race To Dubai standings for the seventh time.
McIlroy now has one more order of merit title than the late great Seve Ballesteros and one less than Colin Montgomerie.
You would have to be very brave to bet against the Northern Irishman surpassing Montgomerie’s record of eight Race To Dubai crowns in the very near future.
The 36-year-old will be disappointed that Matt Fitzpatrick got the better of him at the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday, but winning the Race to Dubai for the seventh time was more than a sufficient consolation.
It’s fair to say that McIlroy has been the greatest golfer of his generation over the past 15 years.
And winning his seventh order of merit crown may well nudge him just ahead of Seve as Europe’s all-time greatest golfer.
The Spaniard was an unbelievably good player and he gave so many people who watched him immense amounts of joy throughout the years.
And it seemed fitting that McIlroy spoke with Ballesteros’ wife, Carmen, before he went out and overtook her late husband’s record.
Rory McIlroy reveals what Seve Ballesteros’ wife told him before final round in Dubai
McIlroy shared his delight at tying Ballesteros’ record this time last year out in Dubai.
Who is the better player: Rory McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler?
The 2025 Masters champion played some great golf this week but he was unable to get over the line in the end, and had to settle for a second-place finish at The Earth Course.
Nonetheless, the Northern Irishman capped off an exceptional year by standing head and shoulders above everyone else on the DP World Tour’s season-long Race To Dubai.
McIlroy spoke to reporters after securing his seventh Race To Dubai crown in Europe, and responded when asked how he feels about overtaking Seve’s tally of six order of merit titles.
He said: “It’s amazing. I had a conversation with his wife Carmen, before I went out to play today. She told me how proud he would have been.
“I said this on this green last year. He means so much to this tour and the European Ryder Cup team. We rally so much around his spirit and his quotes and everything he meant to European golf.
“To equal him last year was cool, but to surpass him this year, I did not get this far in my dreams so it’s very cool.“
McIlroy is already one of the greatest golfers to have ever graced the game.
And it seems like he adds to his legacy every year that passes.
Rory McIlroy on Colin Montgomerie’s record eight Order of Merit victories
Rory McIlroy makes Colin Montgomerie comment after winning Race To Dubai
McIlroy quite obviously now has Montgomerie’s record of eight order of merit titles in his sights.
After losing the playoff to Fitzpatrick in Dubai, McIlroy was asked about Monty’s record and how much surpassing it would mean to him.
He said: “I want it, of course I do, when you get that close. I caught up with Monty this week when I saw him.
“It seems within touching distance now. I was the first European to win the Grand Slam and I would love to be the winningest European in terms of Order of Merits and season long races.
“Hopefully I have a good few years left in me and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.“
Montgomerie holds the DP World Tour record for now when it comes to most order of merit triumphs but McIlroy is closing in on the Scot’s tally of eight titles.
And surely nobody would actually be shocked if McIlroy went on to tie Monty next year.
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