DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy ended a tumultuous yr filled with 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 communicate, choked up with emotion as he contemplated the wins, losses and all the things else in between this yr.
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“I have been by means of quite a bit this yr, professionally and personally,” McIlroy stated. “It feels just like the becoming finish to 2024. I’ve persevered this yr 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 Benefit. Two extra and he can match Colin Montgomerie for the report.
“I’ve actually made it a precedence of my schedule over the previous couple of years to offer myself one of the best probability coming into the top of the yr to win the Race to Dubai. I do not see that being any totally different for the foreseeable future,” McIlroy stated. “Going for my seventh subsequent yr and attempt to chase Monty down.”
McIlroy threw away an opportunity on the U.S. Open by lacking two quick putts during the last three holes at Pinehurst No. 2, ending one behind Bryson DeChambeau. He was on the verge of lastly profitable on residence soil till Hojgaard surprised him with a late cost within the Irish Open at Royal Nation Down.
In Could, 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 might attempt to work it out. His spouse, Erica, and 4-year-old daughter Poppy had 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 yr like this, it is 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 has been arduous at occasions. Had a variety of shut calls. To complete the yr off the best way I did at present 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 event final yr. Hojgaard pecked away with a birdie on the seventh, and McIlroy dropped photographs 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 during the last 11 holes.
McIlroy, who completed at 15-under 273, gained $5 million — $3 million from the event 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 gaggle led by Hojgaard, who completed second within the Race to Dubai. He will probably 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 remaining 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. [In the] European Ryder Cup locker room, all we now 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 am very proud.”
