DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy ended a tumultuous 12 months full of emotion on and off the golf course with a pair of trophies and loads of tears.
McIlroy broke a tie with Rasmus Hojgaard by hitting wedge to a foot for birdie on the sixteenth gap , and he closed with a 3-under 69 for a two-shot victory Sunday within the DP World Tour Championship. He additionally captured his sixth title as Europe’s No. 1 participant.
After which the 35-year-old from Northern Eire couldn’t communicate, choked up with emotion as he contemplated the wins and losses, and the whole lot else in between this 12 months.
“I’ve been by way of loads this 12 months, professionally and personally,” McIlroy stated. “It feels just like the becoming finish to 2024. I’ve persevered this 12 months loads.”
He gained 4 instances — two of them on the PGA Tour — and tied the late Seve Ballesteros together with his sixth title within the Race to Dubai, previously the Order of Advantage. Two extra and he can match Colin Montgomerie for the file.
“I’ve actually made it a precedence of my schedule over the previous few years to offer myself the very best probability coming into the top of the 12 months to win the Race to Dubai. I don’t see that being any totally different for the foreseeable future,” McIlroy stated. “Going for my seventh subsequent 12 months and attempt to chase Monty down.”
He additionally threw away an opportunity on the U.S. Open by lacking two brief putts during the last three holes at Pinehurst No. 2, ending one behind Bryson DeChambeau. He was on the verge of lastly profitable on house soil till Hojgaard surprised him with a late cost within the Irish Open at Royal County Down.
McIlroy revealed in Might that he had filed for divorce, and equally beautiful was phrase a month later that the divorce proceedings had been scrapped and they’d attempt to work it out. His spouse, Erica, and 4-year-old daughter Poppy have been in Dubai cheering his newest victory.
It was loads for McIlroy, and the feelings when it was over bore that out.
“To complete the 12 months like this, it’s a dream come true,” McIlroy stated on the closing ceremony, the place he hoisted the big World Tour Championship trophy and the Harry Vardon Trophy for profitable the season factors title.
“It’s been arduous at instances,” he stated. “Had plenty of shut calls. To complete the 12 months off the way in which I did at the moment means the world to me.”
McIlroy ran off 4 straight birdies from the second gap to construct a three-shot lead over the Dane, whose twin brother Nicolai gained the match final 12 months. Hojgaard pecked away with a birdie on the seventh, and McIlroy dropping pictures on the ninth and thirteenth holes.
McIlroy seized management together with his wedge to the sixteenth, which dropped from the blue sky to a foot in entrance of the opening. Hojgaard did not match that birdie and by no means caught up. He closed with a 71, making nothing however par during the last 11 holes.
McIlroy, who completed on 15-under 273, gained $5 million — $3 million from the match prize fund, and a $2 million bonus for the Race to Dubai.
Ten gamers earned the chance to take up twin membership on the DP World and PGA excursions in 2025.
Antoine Rozner of France, who began the ultimate spherical tied for the lead with McIlroy and Hojgaard, led by two after a birdie on the opening gap. His spherical fell aside with a three-putt double bogey on the ninth gap. He shot 73 and tied for third with Adam Scott and Shane Lowry, every with 68.
Rozner was amongst 10 gamers who earned PGA Tour playing cards for 2025, a bunch led by Hojgaard, who completed second within the Race to Dubai. He shall be becoming a member of his twin brother on the U.S. tour.
The ultimate spot went to Tom McKibbin of Northern Eire, who boldly cleared the water on the 18th to arrange a two-putt birdie. That was simply sufficient to beat out Jordan Smith for the tenth and closing PGA Tour card.
McIlroy gained for the thirty seventh time worldwide as he bids to take his place amongst European greats. The point out of Ballesteros made him emotional for all of the Spaniard has meant to the event of the European tour.
“I feel everybody is aware of what Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup gamers. (Within the) European Ryder Cup locker room, all now we have are quotes of Seve. We had a altering room with Seve’s shirt from ’95, the final Ryder Cup he performed,” McIlroy stated as he wiped away extra tears.
“And for me to be talked about in the identical breath, I’m very proud.”
