Rory McIlroy has been officially confirmed as the Race to Dubai champion for the sixth time and third year in a row after another consistent season on the DP World Tour.
McIlroy arrived at the DP World Tour Championship with a 1,785-point lead in the season standings, having won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and finished runner-up four times during his DP World Tour campaign.
The 35-year-old claimed a share of third place at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship the week before to extend his lead over nearest rival Thriston Lawrence, leaving the South African needing a win and McIlroy finishing outside the top 11 in Dubai. Long season title.
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Highlights from the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links, where Paul Waring took victory and Rory McIlroy finished third.
The four-time DP World Tour winner’s hopes were quickly dashed with rounds of 73 and 71 over the first two days at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with McIlroy’s status as Race to Dubai champion officially confirmed when Lawrence finished the week with a lead of less than one point after the final round. 74 and was eliminated from the competition to win the championship.
McIlroy’s acquisition of the Harry Vardon Trophy comes after his successes in the “Race to Dubai” in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2023 and matches the tally Ballesteros won during his record-breaking career, as the world number three is now two goals away from the record set by Colin Montgomery. Of eight Legion of Merit titles.
Emotional McIlroy: ‘It means a lot’ to match CIF
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Rory McIlroy’s swing changes helped him produce some impressive iron shots on his way to winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy finished 2024 in style by winning two titles on Sunday after winning the season finale in Dubai with a final-round 69 that beat Rasmus Hoggard by two shots.
He was emotional afterward when asked what matching his idol Ballesteros means to him.
“It’s really amazing,” he said, fighting back tears.
“I think everyone knows what CIF means to European golfers and the Ryder Cup. In the European locker room, all we have are quotes from CIF, we have a locker room with a CIF jersey from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played.
“It means a lot to European golf, and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”
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Rory McIlroy recovered from a bogey on his first time making four straight birdies at the DP World Tour Championship and put himself in a strong position.
He added: “I am ready [chasing Colin Montgomerie down]. I’ve just won my third title in a row, and I’ve made it a priority in my agenda over the past few years to give myself a chance at the Race to Dubai, and I don’t see it being any different for the foreseeable future. future.
“I’m going to go for the seventh time next year and try to chase Monty.”
How McIlroy won the Race to Dubai again
The Northern Irishman lost narrowly in the season-opening Dubai Invitational, finishing second behind Tommy Fleetwood after a bogey on the final hole, but came back a week later to successfully defend his Dubai Desert Classic champion title.
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The best of Rory McIlroy’s final round at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as he claimed his fourth title.
He extended his wait for a career Grand Slam at The Masters, finishing tied for 22nd as Scottie Scheffler raced to victory, with McIlroy failing to build on a strong start to the PGA Championship and ending the week with a share of 12th place.
McIlroy’s best chance to end his major drought came at the US Open, where he blew a two-shot lead on the closed holes to finish second behind Bryson DeChambeau, a finish he described as “the toughest day” of his 17-year professional career. .
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Highlights from the thrilling final round of the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where Rory McIlroy squandered a shot at Bryson DeChambeau for major glory.
He did not return to competitive action until his defense of the Genesis Scottish Open title a month later, earning a share of fourth place as Robert McIntyre hit a winning home run, but then suffered a shock miss at The Open after rounds of 78 and 75 at Royal Troon.
McIlroy failed to convert a final-round lead on home soil at the Amgen Irish Open, finishing second after Rasmus Hoggard birdied four of his last five holes, then losing to Billy Horschel in a playoff the following week at the BMW PGA Championship. .
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Here’s a look back at how Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel battled to victory at Wentworth.
A tied 25th place in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was the only regular DP World Tour event this season in which McIlroy finished worse than fifth, with a third-place finish in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship before concluding the Race to Dubai Glory in Dubai.
Is there more success on the DP World Tour for McIlroy?
McIlroy’s tally of four major titles is currently three behind Harry Vardon, two behind Faldo and one behind Ballesteros in the race to be the most successful European golfer in history, with the former world number one confident of approaching and surpassing his totals as well. Recorded Montgomery Legion of Merit.
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Rory McIlroy’s best wins of 2024 are at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Zurich Classic New Orleans, and the Wells Fargo Championship.
“I would like to be the most successful European player ever,” McIlroy said before the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championships earlier this month. “Obviously wins in the Race to Dubai will also count towards major championships, and hopefully I also have a few Ryder Cups ahead of me as well.
“This is something I would like to do and I think it is a goal that can be achieved over the next 10 years. I am very proud to be from Europe and to have played on this tour. [DP World Tour] “I played this round constantly.”
Image: McIlroy will be looking for an elusive fifth major victory in 2025
On how many Race to Dubai titles he could add, McIlroy said before the end of the season: “I think I’m focusing on one year at a time. In the last two years, I’ve renewed my commitment to trying to win the Race to Dubai. Maybe I haven’t played enough on the Ports Tour.” Dubai World for a few years until I give myself a real chance.
“I’ve really tried to recommit to making this a big thing for me. It’s a very meaningful thing to do. You know, obviously I’m trying to get through to Monty [Colin Montgomerie]”Number eight, or maybe exceeding it, is definitely a target for the future.”
Watch Rory McIlroy in action on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream the DP World Tour and more now.
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