It’s that time of the year when the miraculous city of Dubai again provides the backdrop as the DP World Tour Championship hosts the top 50 players on the European Tour for the conclusion of the season-long Race to Dubai.
It’s the culmination of a campaign that has seen some stunning performances as Major champions have been crowned, Rolex Series titles hard-fought and Ryder Cup points earned along the way. This year’s tournament marks the first time the field will be set at 50 (the first ten editions had 60 players) and while the number of spaces has been cut, the prize money has gone up, with an $8m purse up for grabs and the winner receiving $3m. That’s an increase of 125% on the $1.33m Danny Willett won last year. Italy’s Francesco Molinari was crowned the 2018 Race to Dubai Champion after two wins at the BMW PGA Championship and The Open.
Through the years
2009
Lee Westwood romps to victory at 23-under-par, six shots clear to stamp his authority as the clear European No.1 for the second time in his career.
2010
Robert Karlsson defeats Ian Poulter in a play-off after the Englishman suffers a penalty on the green for displacing his ball marker by mistake.
2011
Alvaro Quiros drains a monster eagle putt at the last to deny Scotland’s Paul Lawrie.
2012
Rory McIlroy clinches the first of his two DP World Tour Championship titles with a five-birdie finish to win ahead of Justin Rose.
2013
Henrik Stenson hits a 3-wood for the ages up the last to put the seal on a sixstroke win with an eagle.
2014
Stenson successfully defends with a comfortable two-shot win over McIlroy, Rose and Victor Dubuisson.
2015
McIlroy bounces back to win his second DP World Tour Championship denying playing partner Andy Sullivan with a string of birdies down the stretch.
2016
Matthew Fitzpatrick holds off compatriot Tyrrell Hatton with a one-stroke win for the biggest title of his career so far.
2017
Jon Rahm powers home for his second Rolex Series title on his DP World Tour Championship debut, one clear of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shane Lowry.
2018
Danny Willett soars to a two-shot win over Patrick Reed and Matt Wallace for his first win since the 2016 Masters.
