Rory McIlroy caps season in style with DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai titles
Rory McIlroy wins the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and matches the feat of late great Seve Ballesteros for six Harry Vardon trophies in the process.
Rory McIlroy | -15 |
Rasmus Hojgaard | -13 |
Adam Scott | -11 |
Shane Lowry | -11 |
Tyrrell Hatton | -10 |
Antoine Rozner | -10 |
Rory McIlroy capped off his 2024 season in style by winning both the DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
McIlroy, 35, held a commanding lead atop the DP World Tour Rankings heading into the week where only South Africa's Thriston Lawrence could catch him in the Race to Dubai.
But McIlroy took care of business all on his own by winning the DP World Tour Championship for a joint record third time.
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McIlroy was locked in a ding-dong battle with Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard for much of the final round.
But the World No.3 stamped his authority on the tournament when sending a wedge into a foot on the tough par-3 16th.
McIlroy duly tapped home the birdie putt to move into the outright lead.
Hojgaard kept things interesting going up the par-5 18th after draining a 30-footer for par on the par-3 17th.
But McIlroy held his nerve down 18 by ripping a drive down the right fairway before sending a 5-iron just off the right edge of the green.
Hojgaard went left with his second shot into the rough but could only chip past the hole to 20 feet and he would two-putt for par.
McIlroy would then get up and down for birdie to see out a deserved third career victory on the Earth Course.
The Northern Irishman closed with a 3-under 69 to finish on 15-under par and two shots ahead of Hojgaard, who carded a 71.
"It means a lot," said an emotional McIlroy.
"I've been through a lot this year, professionally, personally, it feels like the fitting end to 2024.
"I've perservered a lot, had close calls, wasn't able to get it done, so to be able to get over the line."
The consolation prize for Hojgaard was that he is one of 10 players to earn a PGA Tour card for next season.
Adam Scott (68), Shane Lowry (68) and Antoine Rozner (73) finished in a three-way tie for third on 11-under par.
The gutsy T3 for Rozner also wrapped up his PGA Tour card for next season.
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As expected at the start of the week, and at the start of the season in all honesty, McIlroy also collected the season-long Race to Dubai title for a third consecutive time and a sixth time overall.
McIlroy has now matched the feat of late great Spaniard Seve Ballesteros for six Harry Vardon trophies.
"It's really cool," said McIlroy, visibly emotional as he thought about Ballesteros.
"I think everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and Ryder Cup players, European Ryder Cup locker room we have quotes of Seve, we had shirts of Seve from '95 in the last Ryder Cup he played, he means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath I am very proud."
McIlroy is now just two more Race to Dubai titles away from matching record holder Colin Montgomerie.
"I'm up for beating the record," said McIlroy. "I've just won a third in a row and I've really made it a priority on my schedule the past few years to give myself the best shot to win a Race to Dubai, and I don't think that will be changing soon. I'm hoping to go for my seventh next year and try chase Monty down."
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McIlroy pocketed a whopping $5m for his efforts in Dubai on Sunday.
He won $3m for taking the DP World Tour Championship and an extra $2m for winning the Race to Dubai.
Hojgaard finished second in the Race to Dubai, with Lawrence, who ended the week well down the board on 1-under par, finished third.
Check out how much they all earned at the DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai.
The victory marks McIlroy's fourth of the season.
He successfully defended his Dubai Desert Classic title earlier in the season and he added two more wins on the PGA Tour at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Shane Lowry before winning a record fourth Wells Fargo Championship in his next start.
But it was of course a year where he went a 10th straight season without adding to his haul of four career majors.
As a result, McIlroy revealed on Wednesday he would grade his season 8/10.
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