DP World Tour Championship: Why Rory McIlroy’s Race to Dubai success and 2024 season deserves extra credit score | Golf Information

If, hypothetically, Rory McIlroy had been to shock the sporting world and announce his {golfing} retirement tomorrow, there may be little doubt that he would depart the sport as certainly one of Europe’s all-time greats.

This can be a participant who has received 4 main titles, had prolonged stints on the prime of the world rankings and performed a key function in quite a few Ryder Cup successes for Staff Europe, plus topped a number of Order of Deserves on each the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

McIlroy’s newest addition to the already glittering {golfing} CV got here by wrapping up the Race to Dubai for a 3rd successive yr, matching Seve Ballesteros’ tally of six Order of Deserves on the DP World Tour and shifting inside two of Colin Montgomerie’s profession document.

The Harry Vardon Trophy completes one other stellar season for McIlroy, who registered 4 runner-up finishes alongside the 4 worldwide victories, though the failure so as to add to his main tally in 2024 means his achievements can typically lack the popularity they finally deserve.

“Unfortunately for Rory, I think everybody looks at the glass half-empty,” Shane Lowry mentioned after his personal tied-third end on the DP World Tour Championship. “I have a look at it glass half-full. He is had an amazingly constant yr.

“The career he’s had so far is incredible. He has not dropped outside of the top 15 in the world rankings in the last 15 years or something. It’s an absolute joke. He’s putting himself up there with the greats of European golf, not that he already wasn’t.”

A better commonplace set for McIlroy?

McIlroy’s 2024 outcomes alone would symbolize a very good profession for a big proportion {of professional} golfers, but his 14 worldwide top-10s from his 27 begins and his year-after-year consistency nonetheless depart many anticipating extra.

“Rory is held to a higher standard than pretty much everybody else in the world of golf,” Tommy Fleetwood instructed. “I feel he is proven superb golf once more this yr, and he is proven why he is the most effective to ever do it. Rory has had an excellent yr.

I feel it is easy for everybody to take a look at what might have occurred if issues go a bit of completely different manner. However on the similar time, you solely get to speak about these issues if he’s persistently up there with an opportunity of successful week-in, week-out.”

McIlroy himself acknowledged that his year may not be regarded as a complete success, saying: “I do know that my 2024 goes to be outlined – at the least by others – by the tournaments that I did not win as a lot because the tournaments that I did.

“I know how people are going to view my year and I view my year similarly but at the same time, I still have to remember I won four times. I accumulated a lot of big finishes and big performances, and the two guys that had better years than me have had career years.

“Xander [Schauffele] received two majors, and Scottie [Scheffler] has received The Gamers, The Masters and an Olympic Gold Medal. They’re the one two guys this yr that I feel which have had higher years than me.”

Dubai glory a ‘becoming finish’ to yr of near-misses

McIlroy misplaced out by a shot on the season-opening Dubai Invitational, bogeying the ultimate gap when a par would have been sufficient to e-book a play-off towards eventual champion Fleetwood, however bounced again per week later to efficiently defend his Hero Dubai Desert Traditional title.

The annual fixation for McIlroy to finish the profession Grand Slam did not materialise at The Masters, extending the look forward to his solely lacking main, however he responded to win back-to-back PGA Tour occasions quickly after on the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship.

McIlroy’s greatest heartbreak and “toughest day as a golfer” got here on the US Open, the place he let a two-shot lead slip over the closing holes and misplaced out by a shot to Bryson DeChambeau, leaving him taking time away earlier than ending tied-fourth on the Genesis Scottish Open a month later.

He contended for a medal on the Paris Olympics earlier than settling for an additional top-five and likewise skilled a irritating end to the PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs, then did not convert a four-shot lead on dwelling soil on the Amgen Irish Open as Rasmus Hojgaard snatched victory.

McIlroy misplaced out in a play-off to Billy Horschel on the BMW Championship per week later and claimed third on the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, earlier than ending his run of near-misses by wrapping up Race to Dubai glory together with his third DP World Tour Championship title.

“I’ve been through a lot this year, professionally and personally,” McIlroy mentioned. “It [DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai victory] feels like the fitting end to 2024. I’ve persevered this year a lot. Had close calls and wasn’t able to get it done.

“I feel there was most likely loads of self-inflicted strain. I actually wished to get it finished. I really like to finish the yr on a optimistic notice. I used to be perhaps feeling a bit of extra strain than I ought to have.

“It was nice to be able to handle it in a decent way. I probably didn’t handle it exactly the way I wanted to, especially around the middle of the round, but the way I finished the round, I’m very pleased with that.”

McIlroy to maintain firing ahead for extra?

The 35-year-old has had extra top-two finishes than missed cuts throughout his outstanding skilled profession already, spanning some 18 seasons, with McIlroy now centered on persevering with his push in the direction of changing into probably the most profitable European golfer in historical past.

“I’ve come this far, I might as well try and get to eight or nine [Race to Dubai titles],” McIlroy mentioned. “I am making an attempt to attain one thing that nobody else within the recreation has achieved if I’m to surpass Monty [Colin Montgomerie].

“I’ve got a good ten years left. Who knows what the world of golf looks like in a few years’ time. But as long as The Race to Dubai is happening and there’s an Order of Merit and we’re on this tour, I’m going to want it.”

McIlroy has lengthy described including to his main tally for the primary time 2014 PGA Championship as “the final piece of the puzzle”, with majors at Quail Hole – the place he has received thrice – and Royal Portrush – in his native Northern Eire – on the 2025 line-up.

“I think he [McIlroy] is more determined than ever to come out firing next year,” Lowry added. “Obviously The Masters will be on the forefront and same as myself, he’ll be looking towards the other big tournaments and The Ryder Cup.”

Deal with McIlroy’s push to assert a Inexperienced Jacket at Augusta Nationwide and full the profession Grand Slam can wait till April. For now, it is time to rejoice a participant who ended an eventful yr – on and off the course – by including his title to the document books as soon as once more.

“Rory brings something extraordinary to any event he’s in,” DP World Tour CEO Man Kinnings instructed Sky Sports activities. “It’s not only what he can do inside the ropes, but he brings something that’s outside the ropes.

“He is vastly influential. He is a really, very sensible man and speaks very properly. He has been crucial, I’d say, to the sport as a determine. What he does for the sport, in each manner, is a large asset. We’re actually fortunate to have him. He does an exquisite job for us all.”

Watch Rory McIlroy in action on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream the DP World Tour and extra with NOW.