McIlroy equals Montgomerie with eighth Race to Dubai title
McIlroy finished runner-up to Tyrrell Hatton in Dubai, earning enough points to pass Eugenio Chacarra in the season standings.
Rory McIlroy secured his eighth Race to Dubai crown Sunday, equalling the record after a runner-up finish behind Tyrrell Hatton at the DP World Tour Championship lifted him past Eugenio Chacarra in the season standings.
McIlroy and Chacarra exchanged the overall lead across the closing nine holes, BBC Sport reported. McIlroy's late push earned him enough points to finish ahead of Chacarra in the race.
The title was McIlroy's fifth straight. He drew level with Colin Montgomerie on eight wins in the European tour's season-long competition, which was formerly called the Order of Merit.
Chacarra held the projected No. 1 spot on Saturday, the DP World Tour said, after scoring four under across his last six holes in round three.
Four under for his final six holes 💪@Eugeniochacarra turns it around on the home stretch and is currently projected at number one on the Race to Dubai. #DPWTC | #RolexSeries
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 14, 2026
An eagle had put McIlroy atop the tournament leaderboard during the third round, seven shots clear of Chacarra, but both ended Saturday on five under, four behind Hatton, The National reported.
McIlroy shot a level-par 72 and made birdie on the 18th, where his approach drew an "unbelievable" description from the DP World Tour.
WHAT. A. SHOT 🤯
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 14, 2026
Rory with an unbelievable approach into the 18th to set up an eagle look.#DPWTC | #RolexSeries
"Obviously, the people are going for Rory, because of all his success he has," Chacarra said Saturday.
Chacarra said he had already achieved his annual goals and that contending for the Race to Dubai "is what we dream of." He described his chance at the title as "just an extra bonus" and said, "I believe in myself."
Hatton, of England, went on to take the tournament in Dubai ahead of McIlroy. "I've got enough experience down these last few holes to know that anything can happen," Hatton said Saturday.
The final-round scores and the Race to Dubai's closing points margin were not immediately available, nor were the players' post-round comments.
McIlroy has completed golf's career Grand Slam. BBC Sport and the Spanish news agency EFE said his eighth Race to Dubai title adds weight to his case as Europe's greatest ever golfer.
Chacarra, 26, sought his first Race to Dubai title after winning three times on the DP World Tour this year, The National reported. He holds a PGA Tour card for next season in the United States.
