Is Rory McIlroy still golf's leader? Sky Sports' Robert Lee looks back at the Northern Irishman's success in Dubai, how he compares to the world's top two and looks at whether success in 2025 will require a big win.
There's a lot to live up to for Rory McIlroy because for a guy like him, winning means everything. You can finish second, third or fourth many times, but every time you don't win – when you should be winning – you get criticized.
I think he held off the Wolves with two birdies on the last three holes in Dubai when he had to do that to win. It was a very important win for McIlroy and you could tell from his emotion in the interview how prepared he was to get across the finish line.
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Highlights from the final round of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
For him to be able to tie Seve Ballesteros' six medals, he's going to be very excited about that, and I think it sets him up well for a big year. . McIlroy and his family will enjoy some downtime before taking on the challenges of 2025, which will help him feel good.
When you talk about the greatest players in European golf history, he's right up there. When he's active, he's like Ben Hogan on steroids, and when he's slightly inactive, he can have the swashbuckling skills of his hero Seve.
If everyone plays their best, I still think McIlroy is the best player in the world. I know Scottie Scheffler is great, but Scheffler doesn't make me want to watch TV. Xander Schauffele doesn't make me want to watch TV.
But McIlroy did it because you were on the roller coaster with him. You go up, you go down, you follow him along the track, but you often don't know where he's going.
As a spectator of McIlroy, you'll be on the edge of your seat and he'll take you along with him. He can hit shots that almost no one else in the world can hit. McIlroy is a needle, he's a tremendous golfer, he really is.
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Rory McIlroy's swing changes helped him hit some great iron shots en route to winning the DP World Tour title in Dubai.
'Little things' deny McIlroy's 'best season'
McIlroy himself said the U.S. Open, BMW PGA Championship and Amgen Irish Open were all little things that kept him from winning more tournaments.
I think he's happy with his year, but he'll know that he missed two three-footers on the final holes of the U.S. Open and got beat by Bryson DeChambeau, Bryson DeChambeau's up-and-down play in the front bunker is amazing.
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Sky Sports' Wayne Riley and Laura Davies break down Rory McIlroy's late collapse and runner-up finish at the US Open.
I'll never forget the two three-woods he hit on the 17th hole for eagle at the BMW PGA Championship. He was then beaten by Billy Horschel, who made an incredible putt from across the green for an eagle in the playoff.
Then on the final hole of the Irish Open, he hit a 350-yard tee shot and hit an iron to the front left pin that no one could get close to. The putt for eagle and play-off went agonizingly over the right edge, allowing Rasmus Hojgaard to win there.
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Rory McIlroy came close to winning the Dubai Invitational, U.S. Open, Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship, but he ultimately lost in all four events.
Now, McIlroy may not win a play-off in Ireland, but those are minor matters. You can't control golf in the best of times, and he had the potential to have his best season of the year.
Does a successful 2025 season require a Grand Slam?
Not winning the Masters is one thing, but it's also a potential career major for McIlroy, so it's like a double whammy for him. He is the only player in the field who has such burdens and expectations every year, as he may only be the sixth professional major golfer ever.
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Watch a selection of the best and worst shots Rory McIlroy has attempted in the past to win the Augusta Masters
He's the only player in the world who goes to Augusta every April and takes it with him. You would think that as one of the best players in the world this would happen to him at some point, and I still believe that.
All the gears will fall into place at some point and he will get that green jacket. For me, it would be the icing on the cake in an already brilliant career, but he's only 35 and has a lot more to do.
When you look at his game, not only can he throw for over 330 yards, but people don't give him enough credit for his short game. When he loses position, he moves up and down multiple times.
When he putts well, he putsts much better than people think. He really has all the ingredients to go to Augusta and win. I know McIlroy can find pins, but this is a defensive golf course and you have to avoid making stupid mistakes.
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Rory McIlroy showed off his incredible golf knowledge by trying to name every Masters winner in his life.
You can easily turn a bogey into a double bogey, and it's hard to get those shots back, so this was an example of McIlroy not making a mistake during his four days at Augusta. At some point, I'm sure this will happen. Why not in 2025?
A successful 2025 for him would be a Grand Slam title. Any of them, absolutely any of them. If this is a Cinderella story for Augusta National, this will be a career-defining factor.
Watch Rory McIlroy in action on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour on Sky Sports Golf Live. McIlroy will start his 2025 season at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic from January 16-19. Stream DP World Tour and more with NOW.
