Rory McIlroy’s rollercoaster 2024 season has come to a close and he finished in style by winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, and with it, a sixth Race to Dubai title equalling the late, great Seve Ballesteros.
Since winning the Wells Fargo Championship back in May, McIlroy has suffered heartbreaking losses at the US Open, the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship, and it looked as though he might have added the DP World Tour Championship to the list after opening a three-shot lead in the early stages, only to be reeled in and find himself tied after the 13th.
He found an extra gear over the closing stages, birdieing 16 to restore a one-stroke advantage, before signing off with a birdie on the par-5 18th to secure his 18th win on the European circuit and one that meant more than most as his emotional interview in the immediate aftermath showed.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot this year professionally, personally. It feels like the fitting end to 2024. You know, yeah, look, I’ve persevered this year a lot. Had close calls. Wasn’t able to get it done.”
An opening bogey was far from the ideal start, but he quickly regrouped and played flawless golf over the next four holes and reeled off four birdies in succession and it looked as though he could disappear off into the sunset as far as the chasing pack were concerned.
But he seldom makes it easy on himself anymore, and a short miss for birdie on the par-5 seventh signalled the start of a difficult stretch where he made bogeys on nine and 13 which allowed Rasmus Højgaard, who picked his pocket at Royal County Down back in September, to draw alongside, and they matched each other through 15.
On the 16th, playing to a pin perilously placed on the front of a green with water short, McIlroy opted to hit 3-wood off the tee, leaving himself hitting first and stuffed his wedge to kick-in distance and hit the front once again.
Højgaard wasn’t giving up without a fight, and made an excellent par save on 17 to keep the pressure on, but McIlroy split the fairway on the last and left himself in a good spot after two, forcing his opponent to have to make birdie and hope that McIlroy couldn’t. Højgaard’s chip was aggressive, and he couldn’t hole the birdie putt coming back, leaving McIlroy with two putts from six feet and he’d only need one.
“I got off to a great start and didn’t have my best in the middle of the round and Rasmus and I both struggled to get momentum,” McIlroy added.
“I thought saving par on 15 was huge. I made four great swings coming in, the wedge on 16, the shot on 18 and two shots on the last. Really pleased with the way I finished and thankfully I hung on on a tough day and got it done.”
“Yeah, I was, I was feeling it,” he admitted when asked about the pressure Højgaard exerted. “I had chances. I had a chance 10 that slipped by; a chance on 11. I bogeyed 13; a 7-iron in my hand on 14 going into the par 5.
“Going into the last few holes, I needed something to happen, and the wedge shot to a foot on 16 was the catalyst I needed to push on and play those last couple holes well.”
When it became apparent that Thriston Lawrence wasn’t going to win, McIlroy’s sixth Race to Dubai title was secured, and he paid an emotional tribute to the man he’s just drawn level with on that number.
“Yeah, it’s really cool. I think everyone know what Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup players. European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes of Seve. We had a changing room with Seve’s shirt from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played (tearing up). He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”
That leaves just Colin Montgomerie on eight ahead of the Holywood man, and he’s now set his sights on reeling in the Scot and becoming the leading player in the history of the European Tour.
“I’m up for it,” he said. “I’ve just won my third in a row, and I’ve really made it a priority of my schedule over the last few years to give myself the best chance coming into the end of the year to win The Race to Dubai. I don’t see that being any different for the foreseeable future.
“You know, going to go for my seventh next year and try to chase Monty down.”
Leave a comment