Matt Fitzpatrick was seen congratulating Rory McIlroy after the Masters champion forced a thrilling playoff at the DP World Tour Championship.

McIlroy brilliantly putted a final hole eagle at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai to frustrate leader Fitzpatrick who was closing in on victory.

Fitzpatrick had set a new clubhouse target of a -18, with a bogey-free 66, to take the trio of Ludvig Aberg , Laurie Canter and Tommy Fleetwood out of the reckoning.

But McIlroy’s inch-perfect putt has kept the Englishman waiting.

McIlroy and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen both needed an eagle to force the play-off and with the Dane missing his chance, it was left up to McIlroy to sink his putt from 15 yards.

While McIlroy could barely hold back his joy, Fitzpatrick watched on from the scorer’s hut k

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