This time, the tears had been of pleasure. When Rory McIlroy was decreased to crying throughout a stay tv interview on the 2021 Ryder Cup, deep frustration over the state of his golf was the trigger. On Sunday in Dubai, an emotional McIlroy rounded off 2024 by claiming the European order of advantage for a sixth time and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
A 12 months of close to misses for the Northern Irishman – most notably on the US Open – ended on a excessive. McIlroy has matched Seve Ballesteros for order of advantage, now named Race to Dubai, titles. “It means so much,” he mentioned. “I’ve been by means of so much this 12 months professionally, personally. It feels just like the becoming finish to 2024. I’ve persevered this 12 months so much. Had shut calls, wasn’t capable of get it finished.
“I believe everybody is aware of what Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup gamers. Within the European Ryder Cup locker room, all we’ve are quotes of Seve. We had a altering room with Seve’s shirt from ‘95, the final Ryder Cup he performed. He means a lot to European golf and for me to be talked about in the identical breath, I’m very proud.
“It’s been fairly the 12 months. I’m super-happy with the place I’m in my profession and in my life. I really feel like every little thing’s labored out the way in which it was speculated to.”
McIlroy ends 2024 with 4 event wins; not unhealthy for a supposed practically man. His newest got here by holding off Rasmus Højgaard by two within the desert. McIlroy’s closing 69 meant a 15-under-par combination. Shane Lowry, Adam Scott and France’s Antoine Rozner shared third.
“I might have been depressing for a couple of weeks if I had not gained at present,” the 35-year-old mentioned. “It could have simply added to the checklist of ones that I felt I let get away. For one to not get away and to recover from the road and be the ultimate occasion of the 12 months, it feels good.
“There was in all probability loads of self-inflicted strain. I actually wished to get it finished. I really like to finish the 12 months on a constructive be aware. I used to be perhaps feeling a little bit extra strain than I ought to have. However it was good to have the ability to deal with it in a good means.”
It feels as if McIlroy’s affiliation together with his residence continent has strengthened in current instances. That feels vital, given the seemingly interminable delay between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Funding Fund formalising a peace deal to align elite golf. It may very well be that McIlroy feels extra at residence within the European area. This Race to Dubai is his third in a row and strikes him to inside two of the report held by Colin Montgomerie.
“I’ve actually made it a precedence of my schedule over the previous few years to offer myself the very best likelihood coming into the top of the 12 months to win the Race to Dubai,” the world No 3 mentioned. “I don’t see that being any totally different for the foreseeable future. Going to go for my seventh subsequent 12 months and attempt to chase Monty down. It’s been an extended 12 months. This was my twenty seventh event, which is so much to me. I’m trying ahead to a little bit little bit of downtime.”
There was further delight for McIlroy. Tom McKibbin, a 21-year-old from Belfast, earned his PGA Tour card courtesy of his season’s efforts on the DP World Tour. McIlroy has provided enormous assist to McKibbin since he emerged as Northern Eire’s newest {golfing} star. “He’s finished amazingly effectively, and I believe his sport goes to be fitted to America,” McIlroy mentioned. “He hits the ball excessive. Hits it lengthy. He gained in Germany final 12 months, he has had possibilities this 12 months and he’s been very, very constant. For a man that’s solely 21 to indicate that degree of consistency, that bodes effectively for the longer term.”