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 World Tour Championship. He additionally captured his sixth title as Europe’s No. 1 participant.
After which the 35-year-old from Northern Eire could not converse, choked up with emotion as he contemplated the wins, losses and every part else in between this 12 months.
“I have been by means of quite a bit this 12 months, professionally and personally,” McIlroy stated. “It feels just like the becoming finish to 2024. I’ve persevered this 12 months quite a bit.”
He gained 4 occasions, twice 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 couple of years to offer myself the most effective likelihood coming into the top of the 12 months to win the Race to Dubai. I do not see that being any completely different for the foreseeable future,” McIlroy stated. “Going for my seventh subsequent 12 months and attempt to chase Monty down.”
McIlroy threw away an opportunity on the U.S. Open by lacking two quick putts over the past three holes at Pinehurst No. 2, ending one behind Bryson DeChambeau. He was on the verge of lastly profitable on residence soil till Hojgaard shocked him with a late cost within the Irish Open at Royal Nation Down.
In Might, McIlroy revealed 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 quite a bit for McIlroy, and the feelings when it was over bore that out.
“To complete the 12 months like this, it is a dream come true,” McIlroy stated on the closing ceremony, the place he hoisted the large World Tour Championship trophy and the Harry Vardon Trophy for profitable the season factors title. “It has been onerous at occasions. Had loads of shut calls. To complete the 12 months off the best way I did right this moment means the world to me.”
McIlroy ran off 4 straight birdies from the second gap to construct a three-shot lead over Hojgaard, whose twin brother Nicolai gained the match final 12 months. Hojgaard pecked away with a birdie on the seventh, and McIlroy dropped 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 outlet. Hojgaard did not match that birdie and by no means caught up, closing with a 71 after making nothing however par over the past 11 holes.
McIlroy, who completed at 15-under 273, gained $5 million — $3 million from the match prize fund and a $2 million bonus for the Race to Dubai.
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 ultimate 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 believe everybody is aware of what Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup gamers. [In 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,” McIlroy stated as he wiped away extra tears. “And for me to be talked about in the identical breath, I am very proud.”
