The DP World Tour reaches its grand finale this week with the DP World Tour Championship at the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, running from 12 to 15 November.
The tournament brings the Race to Dubai to a close, with the top 50 available players in the standings competing for the season-ending title and a share of the $10 million prize fund. There is no halfway cut, so all 50 players are scheduled to complete four rounds.
Matt Fitzpatrick is the defending champion after defeating Rory McIlroy in a playoff last year, while McIlroy heads the betting at 4.30.
Eugenio López-Chacarra leads the Race to Dubai standings, with McIlroy moving into second place after finishing third in Abu Dhabi last weekend. The Northern Irishman trails the Spaniard by approximately 534 points, with 2,000 points available to this week’s winner.
Jon Rahm is also in contention after winning the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship last Sunday, while Patrick Reed remains in the hunt.
We have four selections for the season finale, including the Race to Dubai leader, two players with excellent course records and an outsider at 61.00.
The Course
The Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates is a par 72 measuring approximately 7,706 yards (7,046 metres). Designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2009, it has hosted the DP World Tour Championship since the tournament’s inception.
The course is a typical modern desert layout, featuring generous fairways, large undulating Bermuda grass greens and numerous strategically positioned bunkers.
Length off the tee is a significant advantage, particularly with four par fives offering scoring opportunities. However, players also need to be accurate with their approach shots, as the large greens feature plenty of slopes and run-off areas that can make scrambling difficult.
The closing stretch is one of the most exciting on the DP World Tour. Water comes into play on the final three holes, including the par-three 17th, which features an island-style green, and the par-five 18th, where a stream splits the fairway and creates a difficult decision for players attempting to reach the green in two.
The finishing holes have produced plenty of drama over the years, and a player can make up or lose several strokes in the closing stages.
Winning scores have ranged from 15-under to 21-under over the last five editions, with Nicolai Højgaard winning at 21-under in 2023 and last year’s tournament going to a playoff at 18-under.
Course form is particularly important here. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Matt Fitzpatrick have all won the tournament three times, demonstrating the value of experience at this venue.
From a betting perspective, we are looking for players who combine strong driving with accurate iron play and a reliable putter. With no halfway cut, every player will have four rounds to produce a competitive score, which is another factor to consider when assessing the each-way market.
Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | Winning margin |
| 2025 | Matt Fitzpatrick (England) | −18 | Playoff |
| 2024 | Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) | −15 | 2 strokes |
| 2023 | Nicolai Højgaard (Denmark) | −21 | 2 strokes |
| 2022 | Jon Rahm (Spain) | −20 | 2 strokes |
| 2021 | Collin Morikawa (United States) | −17 | 3 strokes |
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Betting
McIlroy and Rahm dominate the betting, which is understandable given their outstanding records at the Earth Course. Between them, they have won six of the previous 14 editions of this tournament.
With the two favourites priced relatively short, we have looked for some each-way value further down the market, although McIlroy’s course record makes him difficult to leave out.
Our selections are López-Chacarra and Hatton at 19.00, McIlroy at 4.30 and Adrian Meronk at 61.00.
Betting (2026 DP World Tour Championship) – Click here to bet
| Player | Odds |
| Rory McIlroy | 4.30 |
| Jon Rahm | 7.00 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 12.00 |
| Adam Scott | 17.00 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | 19.00 |
| Eugenio López-Chacarra | 19.00 |
Selections
Eugenio López-Chacarra at 19.00
Our first selection is Race to Dubai leader Eugenio López-Chacarra, who has enjoyed an outstanding season on the DP World Tour.
The Spaniard has won three times this year and has been particularly consistent over the last couple of months.
His recent results include victory at the India Championship, runner-up at the Open de España and third place at the Open de France. He also finished 22nd at the Genesis Championship in South Korea before recording another tied-22nd finish at last week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
Although his performance in Abu Dhabi was not quite as strong as he would have hoped, he remains at the top of the Race to Dubai standings and knows that another good result this week could secure his first season-long title.
Chacarra has shown that he can win against strong fields, and his aggressive approach should be well suited to a course where length off the tee and birdie-making are important.
The pressure of leading the Race to Dubai is something he will need to manage, particularly with McIlroy closing the gap last weekend, but he has demonstrated considerable composure throughout the season.
At 19.00, I think he offers an attractive each-way price for a player who has been one of the most consistent performers on the DP World Tour this year.
Suggested bet: Eugenio López-Chacarra each way at 19.00.
Rory McIlroy at 4.30
Our second selection is Rory McIlroy, and it is difficult to look past his outstanding record at the Earth Course.
McIlroy has won this tournament three times, in 2012, 2015 and 2024, and has been a regular contender over the years.
In his last six appearances, he has recorded four top-five finishes and another sixth-place finish. His only result outside the top six during that period was 22nd in 2023.
He finished runner-up last year, losing to Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff, and arrives in Dubai following another encouraging performance at last week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
McIlroy finished third at Yas Links, four strokes behind Jon Rahm, moving him into second place in the Race to Dubai standings.
He now has the opportunity to win an eighth Race to Dubai title, which would see him equal Colin Montgomerie’s record.
The Earth Course suits McIlroy’s game particularly well. His length off the tee gives him a considerable advantage on the par fives, while his familiarity with the course should prove valuable if the tournament becomes tight over the closing holes.
At 4.30, he is a short price, but his exceptional tournament record and the motivation of another Race to Dubai title make him difficult to oppose and I am going with a win only play.
Suggested bet: Rory McIlroy win only at 4.30.
Tyrrell Hatton at 19.00
Hatton arrives in Dubai following an excellent performance at last week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, where he finished runner-up to Jon Rahm.
The Englishman was in contention throughout the final round but could not quite match Rahm’s late charge, eventually finishing two strokes behind the Spaniard.
That performance was an encouraging return to form and should give him plenty of confidence heading into a tournament where he has an excellent record.
Hatton has finished 16th or better in each of his last six appearances at the DP World Tour Championship, including runner-up in 2022 and sixth place in 2024.
He is clearly comfortable at the Earth Course, and his combination of strong iron play and an excellent short game should serve him well again this week.
The course can be demanding around the greens, particularly if players miss in the wrong places, and Hatton is one of the better players in the field when it comes to scrambling and limiting mistakes.
With McIlroy and Rahm attracting much of the attention at the top of the market, I think Hatton offers better each-way value at 19.00.
His performance in Abu Dhabi suggests that his game is in good shape, and another strong showing would come as no surprise.
Suggested bet: Tyrrell Hatton each way at 19.00.
Adrian Meronk at 61.00
Our final selection is Adrian Meronk, who looks an interesting outsider at 61.00.
The Polish player has enjoyed an encouraging return to form in recent weeks, highlighted by victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October.
He followed that with a tied-third finish at the India Championship before recording a respectable 18th-place finish at last week’s Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
Those performances suggest that Meronk is playing some of his best golf of the season, and he now heads to a course where his length off the tee could prove a significant advantage.
The Earth Course has historically rewarded powerful drivers, particularly on the four par fives, and Meronk has the ability to take advantage of those scoring opportunities.
He also has experience competing at the highest level on the DP World Tour and has demonstrated that he can win when his game is in good shape.
The field is considerably stronger than at many regular tour events, and he will need a good week with his irons and putter to challenge the leading players.
However, at 61.00, I think his recent victory, strong finish in India and suitability for a long layout make him worth a speculative each-way bet.
Suggested bet: Adrian Meronk each way at 61.00.
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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