Rory McIlroy wrapped up his 2024 in sublime fashion after repelling Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard to claim the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and seal the Race to Dubai title.
The World No. 3 and four-time major winner came into the final event of the 2024 DP World Tour season as favorite to collect the Race to Dubai title after he strengthened his grip at the top of the standings following his tied-third finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last week.
And it did not take long for his Race to Dubai triumph to be cemented as halfway through the tournament at the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates it was confirmed that South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, McIlroy’s only rival for the title, was unable to win the tournament, a feat he had to achieve to overhaul the Northern Irishman.
Despite his Race to Dubai triumph being sealed midway through the event, McIlroy did not settle. He entered the final round of the event in a three-way tie for the lead alongside Hojgaard and France’s Antoine Rozner. But McIlroy flew straight out of the blocks thanks to four birdies in the first five holes to create a two-shot gap between him and Hojgaard. But the Dane was dragged back into contention following bogeys on the ninth and 13th. But sublime play on the 16th from the 35-year-old which ended with a birdie putt piled the pressure on Hojgaard who was unable to respond in the final two holes leaving McIlroy to close out victory with a birdie putt and card a three-under 69 to end on 15 under.
This is the third year running that McIlroy has been at the summit of the Race to Dubai standings and a sixth time he has collected the title matching the record of iconic Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros. Only Colin Montgomerie, who won what was then the Order of Merit eight times, has topped the end-of-season standings on more occasions than McIlroy.
“Everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and Ryder Cup players,” McIlroy said speaking to Sky Sports.
“The European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes from Seve. We had a changing room with Seve’s shirt from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played.
“He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”
It is also his second on the DP World Tour this year following his Hero Dubai Desert classic win back at the start of the year in January. In what has been a turbulent year on and off the course for McIlroy, failing to get his hands on the decade-long-awaited fifth major title and claiming a number of runner-up finishes, he believes that his victory in Dubai is a ‘fitting end’ to his season.
“It [winning] means a lot,” McIlroy said. “I’ve been through a lot this year. Professionally, personally, and it feels like the fitting end to 2024. I’ve persevered this year a lot, had close calls, wasn’t able to get it done, so to be able to get over the line today.
“I got off to a great start and then didn’t have my best round, saving par on 15 was huge and then I had four great swings coming in. Really pleased with the way I finished and thankfully I hung on on a tough day.
“I’ve just won my third [Race to Dubai] 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 it. I don’t see that being any different for the foreseeable future. I’m going to go for my seventh next year and try and chase Monty [Colin Montgomerie] down.”
What is the next event?
The 2025 DP World Tour season tees off with the BMW Australian PGA Championship taking place between 21-24 November at Royal Queensland GC in Australia.