Rory McIlroy topped Race to Dubai champion for 2024 DP World Tour season and matches Seve Ballesteros’ tally

Rory McIlroy has formally been confirmed as Race to Dubai champion for a sixth time and third successive yr after one other constant season on the DP World Tour.

McIlroy arrived on the DP World Tour Championship with a 1,785-point benefit within the season-long standings, having gained the Hero Dubai Desert Traditional and added 4 runner-up finishes throughout his DP World Tour marketing campaign.

The 35-year-old claimed a share of third on the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship the earlier week to increase his lead over closest challenger Thriston Lawrence, leaving the South African requiring a victory and for McIlroy to complete outdoors the top-11 in Dubai snatch the season-long title.

The four-time DP World Tour winner’s hopes rapidly pale with rounds of 73 and 71 over the primary two days at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with McIlroy’s standing as Race to Dubai champion formally confirmed when Lawrence ended the week on one beneath after a final-round 74 and out of competition for event victory.

McIlroy securing the Harry Vardon Trophy follows his Race to Dubai successes in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2023 and matches the tally Ballesteros gained throughout his record-breaking profession, with the world No 3 now inside two of Colin Montgomerie’s all-time document of eight Order of Benefit titles.

Emotional McIlroy: ‘Means a lot’ to match Seve

McIlroy completed his 2024 in type with two trophies on Sunday after profitable the season-ender in Dubai with a final-round 69 that noticed off Rasmus Hojgaard by two pictures.

He was emotional afterwards when requested about what matching his idol Ballesteros meant to him.

“It’s really cool,” he mentioned, combating again the tears.

“I think everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and Ryder Cup players. In the European locker room, all we have are quotes from Seve, we have a changing room with a Seve shirt from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played.

“He means a lot to European golf and for me to be talked about in the identical breath, I am very proud.”

He added: “I’m up for [chasing Colin Montgomerie down]. I’ve just won my third in a row and I’ve really made it a priority with my schedule over the last few years to give myself a chance with the Race to Dubai and I don’t see that being any different for the foreseeable future.

“I’ll go for my seventh subsequent yr and attempt to chase Monty down.”

How McIlroy gained the Race to Dubai once more

The Northern Irishman misplaced out by a shot on the season-opening Dubai Invitational, ending tied-second behind Tommy Fleetwood after a final-hole bogey, solely to bounce again every week later to efficiently defend his Hero Dubai Desert Traditional title.

He prolonged his await a profession Grand Slam at The Masters, ending tied-Twenty second as Scottie Scheffler raced to victory, with McIlroy failing to construct on a powerful begin to the PGA Championship and ending the week in a share of twelfth.

McIlroy’s greatest probability to finish his main drought got here on the US Open, the place he squandered a two-shot lead over the closing holes to complete second behind Bryson DeChambeau, a end he described because the “toughest day” of his 17-year skilled profession.

He didn’t return to aggressive motion till his Genesis Scottish Open title defence a month later, the place he claimed a share of fourth as Robert MacIntyre registered a house win, however then suffered a shock missed reduce in The Open after rounds of 78 and 75 at Royal Troon.

McIlroy didn’t convert a final-round lead on residence soil on the Amgen Irish Open, ending second after Rasmus Hojgaard birdied 4 of his final 5 holes, then misplaced out to Billy Horschel in a play-off the next week on the BMW PGA Championship.

A tied-Twenty fifth end on the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship was the one common DP World Tour occasion this season that McIlroy completed worse than fifth, with a tied-third on the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship coming earlier than wrapping up Race to Dubai glory in Dubai.

Extra DP World Tour success to come back for McIlroy?

McIlroy’s tally of 4 main titles is presently three behind Harry Vardon, two behind Faldo and one behind Ballesteros within the race to be essentially the most profitable European male golfer in historical past, with the previous world No 1 assured of getting nearer to their totals and likewise surpassing Montgomerie’s Order of Benefit document.

“I would like to go down as the most successful European of all time,” McIlroy mentioned forward of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship earlier this month. “Obviously Race to Dubai wins would count to that but also major championships and hopefully I’ve got a few more Ryder Cups ahead of me as well.

“That is one thing that I wish to do and I believe is a aim that is fairly attainable over the following 10 years. I am very proud to be from Europe and have performed on this tour [DP World Tour] and performed on this tour persistently.”

On what number of Race to Dubai titles he might add, McIlroy mentioned forward of the season finale: “I think I’m focused on one year at a time. The last couple years I’ve recommitted to trying to win The Race to Dubai. I probably didn’t play enough on the DP World Tour for a few years to really give myself a chance.

“I’ve actually tried to recommit to creating it one thing that is necessary to me. It is a fairly significant factor to do. You realize, clearly attempting to get to Monty’s [Colin Montgomerie]’s variety of eight, or possibly surpass, is certainly a aim sooner or later.”

Watch Rory McIlroy in action on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream the DP World Tour and extra with NOW.

Get the very best costs and e book a spherical at considered one of 1,700 programs throughout the UK & Eire

Get the very best costs and e book a spherical at considered one of 1,700 programs throughout the UK & Eire