Open Champion, Collin Morikawa shot a bogey-free round today, to win both the DP Dubai World Tour Championship and the season-long Race to Dubai title. Morikawa has become the first American to win both the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai and the Race to Dubai crown.
Morikawa carded a closing 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates to finish 17 under par, three shots clear of defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Sweden’s Alexander Bjork, whilst third-round leader, McIlroy, faded into 6th place.
This result caps a stunning season for the 24-year-old, who secured his second major title at the Open Championship in July after winning the WGC-Workday Championship in February.
Embed from Getty ImagesComing into the fourth round, the two-time winner of the event and overnight leader, Rory McIlroy, held a two-shot lead when he birdied the second hole but eventually slipped to a tie for a sixth with a disappointing 74, the Holywood man appeared to rip his shirt open in the recording area behind the 18th green.
From the 12th hole onwards, Morikawa really paid testament as to why he ranked third for birdies during the week and 10th for Strokes Gained: Approach the green and seventh for Greens in Regulation (79.15%). With five birdies in his closing seven holes, Morikawa produced an impressive display from tee to green, hitting his approach to eight feet at 15, from out of the fairway bunker to 20 feet at the par-four 16th, to within 10 feet at the 17th and safely into the heart of the green to set up a final closing birdie at the par-five 18th.
Morikawa’s impressive approach play was not limited just to his irons, however. He ranked sixth for Driving Accuracy (64.29%), sixth for Strokes Gained: Around the Green (gaining 0.46 shots over the field average), eighth for Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (gaining 0.57 strokes), and 14th for Strokes Gained: Putting (gaining 0.62 strokes).
Below are the final standings for the event.
