Rory McIlroy forced a playoff at the DP World Tour Championship with a dramatic eagle on his final hole of the day.
His playing partner, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen also had an eagle chance on the 18th hole to get into the playoff with Matt Fitzpatrick, but he failed where McIlroy succeeded.
Fitzpatrick emerged victorious in the DP World Tour Championship playoff in the end, but it was the Northern Irishman who won the Race To Dubai title, for the seventh time no less.
McIlroy was more than relaxed alongside Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen during the final round in Dubai.
After the final round, McIlroy said he was impressed by Neergaard-Petersen, after the Dane played his final six holes in five-under par.
And Neergaard-Petersen played a vital role in McIlroy getting into the playoff in the first place.
What Rory McIlroy said to Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen after his final hole eagle
Despite not winning the actual event, his seventh order of merit title was more than sufficient consolation for the 2025 Masters champion.
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McIlroy provided a real blockbuster moment, like he has so many times in the past, when he rolled in his 20-foot putt for eagle on the final hole in Dubai.
When speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Neergaard-Petersen revealed what McIlroy said to him inside the scorers tent after the final round.
He said: “I was talking to him in scoring and he said he definitely played less break after seeing mine. I still can’t believe mine didn’t break more.
“I was trying to hit it with soft pace, playing the high line. It hardly moved before the last four or five feet of the putt.“
What Neergaard-Petersen told his caddie before McIlroy made eagle
The Dane knew that McIlroy would make his putt for eagle before the Irishman sent his ball rolling towards the cup.
Neergaard-Petersen revealed exactly what he told his caddie right before McIlroy stepped in to address his eagle putt, when speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast.
He said: “Just imagine if he makes this and I miss out on one of the PGA Tour cards by a couple of points.
“You know he’s going to make the putt, it’s just a foregone conclusion. How many times have we seen him when he has the chance on 18 go on and make it.“
After the Dane’s T-3 finish in Dubai, he ended the year in ninth spot in the PGA TOUR Eligibility rankings, meaning that he now has a PGA Tour card for the 2026 season.
So Neergaard-Petersen and McIlroy would both have left Dubai feeling pretty good about themselves.
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