Rory McIlroy moves to second in the Race to Dubai and qualifies for the DP World Tour Championship

Rory McIlroy ended a tough week on a high by winning The European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, moving to second in The Race to Dubai and therefore qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in the process.

McIlroy’s last European Tour win was in 2012 at the DP World Tour Championship when he won both the tournament and The Race to Dubai. His last international tournament win was in December 2013, at the Emirates Australian Open.
The week began with the news that the Northern Irishman had called off his wedding to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and the two-time Major champion had admitted that playing at Wentworth would be “very difficult”. But he put his troubles behind him with a spectacular display, closing with a swashbuckling 66, coming home in just 32 blows on the back nine, for a 14-under-par winning total of 274, one stroke clear of Ireland’s Shane Lowry.
“I feel relieved,” said McIlroy. “It’s been 18 months since I won on The European Tour and to win the Tour’s flagship event at Wentworth – I couldn’t ask for any more.
“I knew coming in here that I was playing well. I struggled a little on Friday but played great over the weekend and in the final round I was helped by a couple of mistakes from the guys in front of me. My caddie J.P set me a target of 15-under – I didn’t quite get there but luckily 14-under was good enough.
“The support I got all week was incredible and it really helped me so it was great to be able to get the win in front of such good fans.”The DP World Tour Championship, taking place at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai from 20-23 November will feature the top 60 players in The Race to Dubai and, historically, a prize-money total of €500,000 has been enough to book a spot in The European Tour’s grand final. McIlroy’s Wentworth winner’s cheque of €791,660 takes his season’s earnings to €1,295,825 and moves him to second in The Race to Dubai meaning he’s secured a place in the DP World Tour Championship field.
Lowry, who started the week 165th in The Race to Dubai after a difficult start to the season, turned in an excellent display, firing a blistering opening round of 8-under 64 and signing off the final round with a long, snaking putt for a birdie at the last and a closing 68 to secure the runner-up spot. Lowry’s second-place prize money of €527,770 sees him surge up The Race to Dubai into 15th place on €560,749 meaning he’ll also be teeing it up at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November.
“I’ve had so many bad days this year, I’ve been struggling such a lot, that I just said to myself ‘go out and enjoy it and see what happens’” said Lowry. “With the putt on the last I was just trying to two-putt it to be honest as I knew I couldn’t win the tournament at that point so it was a great way to finish and get second place on my own. I’m really looking forward to the next few events now.”
Race to Dubai leader and former Dubai resident Thomas Björn, who is already guaranteed a place in the DP World Tour Championship field, looked to be in firm control of the tournament. The Dane set a new course record with a 62 in the opening round and went on a breathtaking run of birdies down the homeward stretch in the third round for a back nine of 30 to sign for 67 and take a five-stroke lead into the final round.
But the wheels came off in spectacular fashion on the final day as Björn struggled to a 3-over 75, which saw him drop into a share of third place with England’s Luke Donald on 12-under-par 276. Donald’s third-place prize money of €297,350 takes his season’s total to €472,727 and puts him within touching distance of a place in the season-ending showcase in Dubai.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and England’s Simon Dyson shared fifth place on 9-under-par 279.

EUROPEAN TOUR TOP 10 RACE TO DUBAI RANKINGS AS OF 25 MAY 2014

1    Thomas BJÖRN        €1,470,194
2    Rory MCILROY        €1,295,825
3    Jamie DONALDSON    €1,233,996
4    Louis OOSTHUIZEN    €1,034,766
5    Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ    €956,312
6    Sergio GARCIA        €931,935
7    Victor DUBUISSON        €875,353
8    Stephen GALLACHER    €838,993
9    Jonas BLIXT            €773,831
10    Henrik STENSON        €710,129