Rory McIlroy clinches his fifth Race to Dubai title after Max Homa’s Nedbank Golf Challenge triumph… with world No 2 setting his sights on Colin Montgomerie’s record

• World No 2 Rory McIlroy will lift his fifth Race to Dubai title this week
• He can’t be caught ahead of season-ending DP World Tour Championship
• Max Homa claimed his first DP World Tour at the Nedbank Golf Challenge 

Rory McIlroy will lift his fifth Race to Dubai title this week after Max Homa’s Nedbank Golf Challenge victory sealed the Northern Irishman’s second consecutive crown.

Jon Rahm can now no longer catch McIlroy ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship which starts on Thursday in the UAE. World No 2 McIlroy also won the Race to Dubai — previously the Order of Merit — in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

The 34-year-old’s five titles are bettered only by Colin Montgomerie’s eight, including seven in a row from 1993-99, and Seve Ballesteros’ six. 

And McIlroy has set his sights on breaking the Scot’s record over the next few years. ‘Winning the Race to Dubai title for the fifth time is an incredible honour and another important milestone in my career,’ said McIlroy. 

‘Capturing the Ryder Cup in Rome was a highlight this year and adding this title makes it all the more special. I still have distance to cover. That inspires me to give my best in the upcoming years.’

World No 2 Rory McIlroy (above) will lift his fifth Race to Dubai title this week 

Max Homa claimed his first DP World Tour at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa

Homa, 32, claimed his first DP World Tour victory thanks to a six-under 66 on the final day at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa.

The Californian cruised home by four shots thanks to six birdies and an eagle on Sunday, with Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard his nearest challenger. Thorbjorn Olesen, who began the day two shots behind overnight leader Homa, briefly took a share of the lead when he birdied seven of the first 10 holes. 

But a pair of bogeys on 12 and 13 halted his charge, and a double at 17 killed it for good. He finished five shots off Homa in third while Justin Thomas, on a rare foray into the European tour, was fourth, seven shots behind the winner.

‘It’s been a dream 10 or 11 days,’ said Homa. ‘It was a crazy day — I got off to such a great start and Thorbjorn was playing unbelievable. He kept pushing us along and Nicolai was playing phenomenal golf so it was fun.

‘It’s kind of what you dream of, you want to be in the fight and it was fun to close it out.’

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