McIlroy, Fitzpatrick set for DP World Tour Championship showdown

Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick will return to Jumeirah Golf Estates in November for the DP World Tour Championship, the final Rolex Series event of 2022, as they bid to win the DP World Tour Rankings.

McIlroy has led the Rankings since his runner-up finish at The 150th Open at St Andrews in July, with Fitzpatrick, who won his maiden Major Championship at the US Open at The Country Club, Brookline, in hot pursuit.

Both players have enviable records on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with four victories and ten further top ten finishes between them, with Fitzpatrick winning the season-ending event in 2020.

McIlroy currently leads the DP World Tour Rankings after a stellar year on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, with seven top five finishes to his name this season on the DP World Tour.

After winning the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup for a third time after his victory at the TOUR Championship at East Lake, the four-time Major Champion now has his sights on securing the season-long title on the DP World Tour for the first time since 2015.

The Northern Irishman first finished top of the season-long standings in 2012 and then won back-to-back Harry Vardon Trophies in 2014 and 2015.

"I have some great memories of playing golf in Dubai, from making my first cut on Tour as an amateur, to winning my first DP World Tour title and then finishing top of the rankings on three occasions," said McIlroy.

"To win both the DP World Tour Rankings and the FedEx Cup in the same season would be a great achievement and would cap what has been a memorable year on the golf course," he added.

Fitzpatrick won his eighth DP World Tour title at this year’s US Open, famously triumphing at the same venue he won the US Amateur Championship nine years earlier, becoming just the second golfer next to Jack Nicklaus to win both championships on the same course.

The Englishman has three further top ten finishes to his name this season, including a runner-up result at the DS Automobiles Italian Open, held at next year’s Ryder Cup venue, Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

"I’ve come very close to finishing top in the past, so I’ll be going to Jumeirah Golf Estates with a lot of confidence knowing that I’ve had some great results on the Earth Course in the past," said Fitzpatrick.

We can't wait to welcome @McIlroyRory and @MattFitz94 to the #DPWTC 🤝

Catch the two leading players on the DP World Tour Rankings at the Earth course next month!

Secure your FREE tickets now on our link in bio pic.twitter.com/3PGG74H6l4

— DP World Tour Championship (@dpwtc) October 17, 2022

Jumeirah Golf Estates will welcome the top 50 players available on the DP World Tour Rankings for the 14th edition of the DP World Tour Championship.

The week will begin with the Rolex Pro-Am on Tuesday, November 15, while a Community Day will be hosted on Friday, November 18, inviting schools, junior golfers and people of determination to experience behind the scenes tours, golf clinics and workshops.

Saturday, November 19 will once again be Ladies Day and Sunday, November 20 will be a dedicated Family Day.

The G4D (Golf for the Disabled) Tour Finale will also take place over Friday and Saturday, with the world’s best golfers with a disability competing in the final event of the season on the same setup as the DP World Tour professionals.

Free general admission tickets are available, with premium offerings in the Championship Chalet and Earth Lounge also available to purchase.

 Tom Phillips, Head of Middle East for the DP World Tour, says it's a unique chance to get up close to the top stars.