It is a Tour of duty for Europe’s biggest stars

IT was a week to savour in Dubai to finish off the season as Europe’s two best golfers claimed all the glory.

Jon Rahm was the tournament winner, taking the title at the Earth Course in typical style.

The Spaniard has an amazing ability to get in front, pressure the chasing pack and seize victory.

It was also the perfect finish for Rory Mcilroy as he claimed the money list title.

The DP World Tour got exactly what they wished for but it is a very tough environment at the moment for European golf.

The vast wealth and exposure of the PGA Tour has for years rendered Europe’s tour as the poor relation – and now LIV has cast another shadow over the product.

It is crucial that the big guns that are left in Europe show up and perform the way we know they can.

That happened in spades with a star-studded supporting cast.

Pre-covid, Rahm proved to be the best player in Europe – when he’s at his best only a select few at the top can compete with him.

Matt Fitzpatrick

(inset), as the current US Open champion, can consider himself worthy of being included among that number.

Shane Lowry, as he proved at Wentworth, is capable too when the stars align, while Tommy Fleetwood showed the previous week that he, too, is capable of carrying events.

Tyrrell Hatton is another player that the Tour needs to hold onto – he, like the others, has played a part in keeping the home fires burning.

The next rung on the ladder is also key, as up and coming players need to take big strides forward. On last week’s evidence, the gap between the best and the rest is substantial. Judging by the world rankings on both tours, the road ahead is a difficult one from a European viewpoint.

Still, Rahm rounded off his year with his third win. It will leave him feeling buoyant during his off-season.

He alluded to the fact that his life off the course has changed dramatically, with two children in under three years.

All these factors come to into play for golfers, even one as talented as the 28-yearold.

Mcilroy ends the year as Fedex champion, DP World Tour kingpin, and as the world number one.

He feels that he’s now a complete player.

The numbers suggest he’s correct.

John Murphy making jump so quickly is a very good sign TIME FOR SOME R & R Rahm and Rory head into the off-season with plenty to be proud of after last week

Lowry has proved he’s well capable