Rory McIlroy won the Race to Dubai for the second time in three years after Brooks Koepka’s victory at the Turkish Airlines Open on Sunday ensured McIlroy cannot not be surpassed at the top of the European rankings.
It had seemed absurd that after winning two majors this year, plus victories at the World Golf Championship and the BMW PGA Championship, McIlroy might not be named the top European golfer of 2014. However, after McIlroy took time out to prepare for his upcoming court case in a dispute with his former management company, Sergio García, Jamie Donaldson and Marcel Siem each retained a slim chance of catching the 25-year old going into the tournament in Turkey.
Koepka’s maiden European Tour win put an end to that, and while the result prevents a denouement at the DP World Tour Championship which starts on Thursday, few can argue McIlroy does not deserve to finish the year at the top of the European money list.
“This has obviously been the best season of my career by a long way and to win the Race to Dubai for the second time really is something truly special,” said the world No1, who is already in the United Arab Emirates preparing for his first tournament in six weeks. “That four-week spell over the summer, from the Open to the US PGA Championship, would have to be the best golf of my life, so I feel like I’ve really earned the Race to Dubai.
“Winning it for the first time two years ago was a fantastic feeling but I feel like I’m now a more complete player and my all-round game has moved to another level.
“I’ve put in a lot of hard work this season, with my game and my fitness, so it’s nice to get the rewards at the end of it. In some ways the pressure is off next week, but I’ll fight very hard to end the year on a high with another victory.”
McIlroy took to Twitter to congratulate his West Palm Beach neighbour Koepka, who carded a final round of 65 to finish on 17-under-par, one shot ahead of Ian Poulter. The 24-year-old came through the front nine with four birdies and moved into the lead with a superb eagle on the par-five 13th hole, sending his second shot to within eight feet, before calmly putting in. Poulter was unable to close the gap in the remaining holes, and missed a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th that would have forced a play-off with Koepka, who is now favourite to win the European Tour’s rookie of the year award. The American described his £729,000 victory in Antalya as being right at the top of his career highlights and also announced his long-term goal to be part of the US Ryder Cup team in 2016.
For Poulter, who let slip a six-shot lead after a poor third round in wet conditions on Saturday, it represents another near miss after falling away at the WCG-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai earlier this month. Armed with new equipment and injury free, the 38-year-old is at least showing some form of late and appears confident for the upcoming week.
“I expect to win [the DP World Tour Championship] the way I’m playing right now,” he said. “I want to tee off now and rectify the mistakes I made this week. I’m angry but I’ll continue that anger as sometimes it spurs me on.”
