Morikawa becomes first American winner of Race to Dubai

Collin Morikawa fired a final-round 66 to win the DP World Tour Championship in brilliant fashion on Sunday and create history by becoming the first American to win the season-long Race to Dubai.

World number two Morikawa made five birdies in his last seven holes at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth course to close with a six-under-par fourth round and a winning total of 17-under-par 271.

Rory McIlroy, who led the tournament heading into the last few holes, fell back with consecutive bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes.

ALSO READ: European Tour rebrands as DP World Tour amid major changes

He was extremely unlucky at the 15th, as what looked like a terrific wedge shot hit the pin and rolled back into the bunker. He eventually finished on 12-under par, after missing a short par putt on the 18th green.

Matt Fitzpatrick, winner of the tournament last year and in 2016, made a charge on the final day, but he made late bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes to fall back.

The Englishman was tied second at 14-under alongside Alexander Bjork (70) of Sweden.

Nicolai Hojgaard (67) of Denmark and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre (71) were tied for fourth place at 13-under par.