Matt Fitzpatrick secured his third DP World Tour Championship victory after defeating Rory McIlroy in a dramatic playoff, and has since shared his thoughts on social media following his triumph over his emotional Ryder Cup teammate and friend.
“It means the world,” declared Fitzpatrick after wrapping up 2025 with a third victory. “Struggled at the start of this year, obviously, and to turn it around in the summer like I did and have a Ryder Cup like I did, Ryder Cup in particular, feel like it’s hard to top given everything.
“But the way that I played today, you know, I feel like I really didn’t hit one bad shot all day. I’m so proud of myself, the effort that everyone puts in behind the scenes. Yeah, what a feeling. What a feeling.”
Fitzpatrick proceeded to praise McIlroy, who appeared visibly distraught following the playoff defeat, after the Northern Irishman missed out on the season-ending championship.
“Thank you to my wife, family, and team for your support always. And congratulations to Rory McIlroy always fun to compete with you mate!”
The sole scenario for McIlroy losing the Race to Dubai championship was if Marco Penge emerged victorious while McIlroy finished third, but that situation never materialized. McIlroy delivered an eagle on the 18th hole during regular play to force extra holes, but ultimately fell short against Fitzpatrick, though still managed to claim the Race to Dubai crown regardless.
With his Race to Dubai achievement, McIlroy has now exceeded Severiano Ballesteros’s tally of Race to Dubai championships, as McIlroy currently holds seven and sits just one behind Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight.
“I had a course with his wife, Carmen, before I went out to play today, and she told me how proud he would have been,” McIlroy shared after clinching the Race to Dubai title.
“You know, I said this on this green last year, he means so much to this tour and to the European Ryder Cup Team. We rally so much around his spirit and his quotes and everything he meant for European golf. To equal him last year was cool but to surpass him this year, yeah, I didn’t get this far in my dreams, so it’s very cool.”
McIlroy also revealed his ambition to secure an eighth title and match Montgomerie.
“I want it, of course I do. I caught up with Monty this week when he was here a couple days ago and I saw him. Look, it seems within touching distance now. I’d love to be the winningest European in terms of Order of Merits and season-long races.
“I’ve probably got a few more good years left in me, and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.”
