Rory McIlroy admitted it was “painful” not to end a crippling decade-long drought this year but still sees 2024 as a “successful season” as he bids to end his sixth Dubai campaign this week. Battle for the title.
McIlroy participates in the DP World Tour Championship at the end of the season, sky sports golf live broadcastStarting Thursday morning, he will be targeting a third consecutive No. 1 spot on Tour.
A top 11 finish on Sunday will ensure he once again becomes Europe's top golfer, taking home a $2 million (£1,569,988) prize, regardless of South African Thriston Lawrence, the only other player still in contention for Dubai. What's the result?
McIlroy has won three events this year – twice on the PGA Tour and once at the DP World Tour back in Dubai in January – but fell short in the final round of the U.S. Open in June. After losing by one stroke to Bryson DeChambeau, a fifth major championship remains out of reach. Opened up in a late collapse on the last few holes.
Looking back on his performance throughout the year, McIlroy said that although he may not have achieved all of his goals for 2024, he is still satisfied with his overall performance.
“Incredible consistency again. I'm very proud of that over the last few years,” he told a pre-match press conference in Dubai on Wednesday.
“But at the same time, think about the people who have escaped. I should be sitting here with a fifth Grand Slam title and I'm not, so it stings and it's something I have to accept but at the same time , I will have more opportunities in the future.
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McIlroy hits monster 353-yard tee shot at 5-under in first round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
“But I really just want to focus on the positives of continuing to perform at the highest level this year. You know, I still have three wins and a chance to get a fourth here this week, win another Dubai champion.
“Did I achieve all the goals I set this year? Probably not, but I still think it was a successful season.”
Asked what grade he would give himself in 2024, the Northern Irishman replied: “It's going to be a pass. It's not going to be an outstanding pass. Probably an eight.”
He will be ranked third in the golf world rankings this year, behind American duo Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.
“You have two guys at the top of the world rankings, Sander has won two majors and Scottie has won the Masters, The Players and the Olympics, and they definitely stand out this year,” McIlroy admitted.
“I’m obviously very aware of that and it just makes me more motivated to try and emulate what they’re doing this year.”
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All McIlroy's shots at the 18th hole of the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi
McIlroy explains 2025 schedule
one day later DP World Tour 2025 schedule announced, McIlroy was asked about his plans for next year amid reports he will play fewer events in 2024 after making 27 appearances around the world.
He said his commitment to the PGA Tour, where he has competed 19 times, may be slightly reduced.
Regarding the DP World Tour, where he has competed in seven regular events, McIlroy said: “The future is going to look very similar.
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McIlroy showed off his skills by hitting an incredible half-volley in practice ahead of the first round of the DP World Tour Championship
“I usually start in Dubai in the Middle East and then I don't play here again until the Scottish Open. [in July]. So I'm going to play this tournament, it's a tournament I've enjoyed playing in the past few years, especially before the British Open.
“Then, once the U.S. season is over, come back. The schedule is like this, Irish Open, Wentworth, Dunhill, those two [Play-Off] event, it's going to look very similar to what I've been doing.
“If anything, the U.S. schedule will be reduced because some of the races I’m doing this year that I don’t normally do, those are races that I’ll be cancelling.”
Rory hopes 'really cool' to equal seventh place
First, McIlroy will look to end the year on a high point with a win at the Dubai tournament, having already won twice on the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“Coming here last year I had it wrapped up, which was obviously really good, but at the same time probably lacked a little bit of motivation in the game because of it,” he said.
“So knowing that I still have to go out and play well, depending on how Triston does, I think that gives me a little extra motivation to be more focused this week.”
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McIlroy made a 53-foot putt for birdie in the final round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, cutting the lead to two points
McIlroy started the week with a 1,785.02-point lead over the 27-year-old Lawrence, who has finished in the top 10 10 times this year, including a sixth-place finish in Abu Dhabi last week.
“He's a very creative player. He hits a lot of different shots and he's having a great year,” McIlroy said.
“We had a good conversation last week about his plans for next year and certainly the PGA Tour card and his plans to make that happen there.”
If McIlroy wins his sixth Dubai title on Sunday, he will equal the legendary Seve Ballesteros on the all-time rankings and just shy of Colin Montgomerie, the record eight-time winner. Two people.
“I guess I'm too young to remember a lot of Seve's career and what he did. Seve is almost not a mythical figure to me, but a little bit ahead of my time,” he said.
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“But he was my dad's favorite player. He had a huge impact on European golf from the Ryder Cup and what he did on the European Tour and he meant so much to golf in general, especially in this part of the world , on this trip.
“It’s pretty cool to be on equal footing with him and have a career that rivals his.”
Who will win the Race to Dubai? Watch this week's DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage will begin at 7am on Thursday morning on Sky Sports Golf Channel. Get Sky Sports now or live stream DP World Tour and more.
