A record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title "means the world" to Rory McIlroy.

Tyrrell Hatton won the DP World Tour Championship, finishing five shots clear of McIlroy in second.

But McIlroy's runner-up finish was enough to see him clinch the Race to Dubai title for the eighth time.

McIlroy's 10-under par saw him finish two strokes clear of Eugenio Chacarra, and in the process, pip the Spaniard to the post in the Race to Dubai title race.

The Northern Irishman has matched Colin Montgomerie's record of eight Order of Merit titles.

"Winning eight Order of Merits was never really on my list of goals when I was growing up," McIlroy told the DP World Tour.

"I remember Monty being obviously a stalwart of the European Tour, going to watch him at the World Match Play at Wentworth over the years and remember playing with him for the first time, so to pull up alongside him and to win any of these things, it means the world to me.

"I am a very proud European, a proud European player. I am proud to be a part of the DP World Tour, and I am very proud of myself right now."

RORY MCILROY IS THE 2026 RACE TO DUBAI CHAMPION He ties Colin Montgomerie’s record of EIGHT Order of Merit titles. #DPWTC | #RolexSeries https://t.co/vxcSBZqDhY

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 15, 2026

Six-time major champion McIlroy also revealed his father has been in hospital for the last two months as he recovers from a major operation.

"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," McIlroy added.

Chacarra led going into the final weekend, but can at least take solace in gaining a PGA Tour membership.

He said: "It was a good fight. I just came out short – that's the beauty of golf. He [McIlroy] has played here 14, 15 times; it was going to be tough, and he had a better day than I did.

"I knew it was going to be a long day, and I tried my best. That's all I can ask for myself to do, and that's what we did. I would say proud of the fight and proud to have a chance till the end."

Hatton's triumph, meanwhile, came after he carded a final-round 66. It marks his ninth DP World Tour title.