Rory McIlroy moved within 307.76 points of Patrick Reed in the Race to Dubai rankings with a tied-second finish at the BMW PGA Championship; McIlroy is looking to win the Order of Merit for an eighth time; JJ Spaun claimed a two-shot win at Wentworth By Ali Stafford at Wentworth Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Rory McIlroy has turned his attention to chasing down Patrick Reed for another Race to Dubai title after a cold putter cost him BMW PGA Championship victory. McIlroy went into the final round two strokes back at Wentworth, where he recovered from failing to convert numerous birdie chances to briefly grab a share of the lead during a thrilling final round. The world No 2 stumbled to a closing par to post a final-round 68 and finish in tied-second on 15 under, two strokes behind winner JJ Spaun, leaving McIlroy with a fourth runner-up finish at the DP World Tour’s flagship event since his 2014 win. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player “I had my chances out there!” McIlroy told Sky Sports.
“I felt like I hit the ball really well – probably the best I’ve hit it all week. “Had good chances on two, three, five, eight, nine, 10, 13, the last. I felt like I hit good putts but, a bit like last week [Amgen Irish Open], I was just not seeing the lines that well. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player “I struggled with some of the reads today and I hit some good putts that didn’t go in.
I holed a couple coming down the stretch but I think the story of the week was that I didn’t hole as much as I should have. “If I did, it would have been a different story.” BMW PGA Championship 2026: JJ Spaun snatches victory at Wentworth, as Rory McIlroy comes unstuck despite late surge BMW PGA Championship: JJ Spaun wins as Manuel Elvira cards seven on final hole La Sella Open | Day four highlights Golf Leaderboards: PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, LIV Golf, DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour, major championships and more BMW PGA Championship | Day four highlights BMW PGA Championship: Manuel Elvira finds positives after ‘devastating’ final hole loss to JJ Spaun at Wentworth McIlroy ending in a four-way share of second earned him 532 Race to Dubai points and moved him within 308 of Reed, who withdrew mid-round on Friday due to injury, in the season-long standings. Reed had said he was looking forward to a battle with McIlroy, who will next feature at the DP World India Championship from October 15-18 before the two season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs in the Middle East. The Northern Irishman has topped the Order of Merit in four consecutive seasons and is looking to finish No 1 again, which would pull McIlroy level with Colin Montgomerie’s all-time tally of eight Race to Dubai titles.
“As soon as The Open was over, really that was the goal for the rest of the year,” McIlroy added. “I would obviously love to do it [win the Race to Dubai]. “For Patrick, it was unfortunate this week. Hopefully he’s okay and he can play what he needs to going in to really make it a good battle, but I’m excited.
“I’ll keep working on my game over the next three weeks, then hopefully have a strong end to the season and give myself a great chance at that eighth one.” McIlroy’s runner-up finish at Wentworth follows previous seconds there in 2018, 2022 and 2024, leaving him still searching for his first worldwide win since successfully defending his Masters title in April. “I think McIlroy left a little bit behind him on the greens – he had loads of chances,” former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley told Sky Sports. “It was surprising for a guy who has really improved his putting over the past couple of years and looks so good over them, but he seemed to miss putt after putt after putt. “I don’t think he has played his best golf from tee to green, I’d rate him 3.5 out of five for what he’s capable of.
It’s almost like he couldn’t get out of the starting blocks but still finishes tied-second – it’s incredible and shows just how much talent he has.” McIlroy is next scheduled to feature at the DP World India Championship from October 15-18, before further appearances at the Abu Dhabi Championship (November 5-8) and the DP World Tour Championship (November 12-15). Who will win the Race to Dubai?
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