Ryan Fox DP World Tour Championship Dubai season-ending race, Digi Mart USA News (Dubai): Two New Zealanders are among the top 50 golfers playing the DP World Tour finale in Dubai this week, hoping to claim the season-ending honors. Auckland’s Ryan Fox and Wellington’s Daniel Hillier are both in the top ten and in contention for the tour’s richest payday at the Tour Championship in Dubai.
Fox won his maiden major title, The Open Championship, in July, a victory that catapulted him into stardom. He is ranked eighth on the tour, one spot ahead of Hillier.
At the head of the 50-strong field is Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, who won three times this year. He has the opportunity to stop Rory McIlroy from winning a record-equaling eighth Race to Dubai title, although the Northern Irishman is in good form after finishing third in Abu Dhabi last week.
Last year, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick beat McIlroy in a playoff to win his third DP World Tour Championship title. Fitzpatrick decided not to play the tournament this year because of security concerns in the region.
The prize purse at the DP World Tour Championship is $18 million, with the winner banking $5.3 million. The player finishing top of the rankings at the conclusion of the tournament will pocket $3.5 million as part of a $10.7 million bonus pool to be shared by the top ten on the list.
The top ten ranked players at season’s end also gain tour cards to the PGA. Hillier is currently in the top five of the eligible players.
While all 50 players can win this week’s tournament, just nine are still in contention for the overall season honors, including Fox and Hillier. To claim that honor, Fox needs to win in Dubai and hope Chacarra finishes 14th or worse and McIlroy fourth or worse.
“Yeah, that would make what’s been an amazing year even better,” Fox told the tour. “I didn’t think it was mathematically possible, but obviously it is.
So yeah, that’s the goal every week, to go out there and try to win.
“I don’t have the greatest record round here, but hopefully that changes this week and I can put myself in contention and see what happens on Sunday.”
The tournament is being played on the Earth Course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. “It’s a strong test of golf, got some length to it,” Fox said.
“I think you probably need a little bit of luck with your tee times. It’s one of those places where it gets almost easier later in the day when the ball starts going a bit further.”
Fortunately, Fox and Hillier are in the later groups on the first day. Fox, who played on both the PGA and World Tours in 2026, scored one win (The Open Championship) and qualified to play in the Presidents Cup.
Hillier finished second three times this season and had four other top ten finishes. He also won the New Zealand Open in Arrowtown in March.
