Rory McIlroy dedicates record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title to hospitalised dad

Detailed summary

An emotional Rory McIlroy has dedicated his record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title on the European tour to his father, who is recovering in hospital after major lung surgery.

An emotional Rory McIlroy has dedicated his record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title on the European tour to his father, who is recovering in hospital after major lung surgery.

McIlroy joined Colin Montgomerie atop the all-time list of winners of the previously named Order of Merit award after finishing second to Tyrrell Hatton at the World Tour Championship on Monday morning (AEDT).

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Rory McIlroy dedicates Dubai win to recovering father

His latest accolade adds to an already bursting trophy cabinet that includes six major titles and the career grand slam.

The two-time reigning Masters champion broke down in tears when asked about his dad after winning the title.

“He’s been in the hospital for the last two months. He underwent a huge operation at the end of September and is recovering well, thankfully,” McIlroy said.

“When I left to come here to the Middle East, I went up to Cleveland to see him before I went and he said to me, ‘Go win the Race to Dubai’. This one is for him.”

Hatton shot six-under 66 on Sunday to win the season-ending event by five strokes on 15-under par, but the main focus was on the tense fight for the year-long points title between McIlroy and young Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, who arrived in Dubai atop the standings just ahead of the Northern Irishman.

In a turbulent final round in which Chacarra played one group behind McIlroy, the pair regularly exchanged places in the top two spots of the projected standings. McIlroy won out, shooting a bogey-free 67 that ultimately left him in outright second place.

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