DP World Tour: Five Events That Stood Out

Another year on the DP World Tour is about to go into the books, filled, as usual, with heroics and heartaches.

Which leads to this week’s finale, the DP World Tour Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the 50 players who accumulated the most points will compete for the title.

There will also be a winner — either Rory McIlroy, who has a big advantage, or Thriston Lawrence — in the Race to Dubai that will award 10 golfers a total of $6 million.

Below are five events in the 2023-24 season that provided their share of suspense:

Jan. 11-14: Dubai Invitational

Down the stretch, it was McIlroy’s tournament to win or lose.

He lost.

Up by a stroke on the 72nd hole at the Dubai Creek Resort, McIlroy of Northern Ireland found the water with his tee shot, leading to a bogey. Taking advantage was Tommy Fleetwood of England, who knocked in a 16-foot birdie putt for the victory.

“I think I was very happy with the way I played today for the large majority of the round,” said Fleetwood, who prevailed by one over McIlroy and South Africa’s Lawrence.

McIlroy was also on target for much of the day. He recorded three straight birdies on the back nine, but three-putted from two feet on 14 and made the costly error on 18.