{"id":296361,"date":"2023-11-12T23:24:46","date_gmt":"2023-11-12T23:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=296361"},"modified":"2023-11-12T23:24:46","modified_gmt":"2023-11-12T23:24:46","slug":"mcilroy-clinches-his-fifth-race-to-dubai-title-and-eyes-monty-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/golf\/mcilroy-clinches-his-fifth-race-to-dubai-title-and-eyes-monty-record\/","title":{"rendered":"McIlroy clinches his fifth Race to Dubai title and eyes Monty record"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rory McIlroy will lift his fifth Race to Dubai title this week after Max Homa\u2019s Nedbank Golf Challenge victory sealed the Northern Irishman\u2019s second consecutive crown.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 previously the Order of Merit \u2014 in 2012, 2014 and 2015.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old\u2019s five titles are bettered only by Colin Montgomerie\u2019s eight, including seven in a row from 1993-99, and Seve Ballesteros\u2019 six.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And McIlroy has set his sights on breaking the Scot\u2019s record over the next few years. \u2018Winning the Race to Dubai title for the fifth time is an incredible honour and another important milestone in my career,\u2019 said McIlroy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Capturing 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.\u2019<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
World No 2 Rory McIlroy (above) will lift his fifth Race to Dubai title this week\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Max\u00a0Homa claimed his first DP World Tour at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Californian cruised home by four shots thanks to six birdies and an eagle on Sunday, with Denmark\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s been a dream 10 or 11 days,\u2019 said Homa. \u2018It was a crazy day \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s kind of what you dream of, you want to be in the fight and it was fun to close it out.\u2019<\/p>\n