Rory McIlroy wins sixth Race to Dubai title after DP World Tour Championship victory: ‘Means a lot’ after this year
Rory McIlroy has won his sixth Race to Dubai title after victory in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The 35-year-old has now won three consecutive Race to Dubai crowns and his sixth overall – previously winning in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022 and 2023 – to equal golf legend Seve Ballesteros’ record on the European tour.
McIlroy went into the season-ending tournament with a 1,785 points lead over nearest challenger Thriston Lawrence, who needed to win the DP World Tour Championship and hoped McIlroy would finish outside the top 11 in Dubai if he won.
McIlroy won the trophy ahead of the South African by finishing two strokes ahead of Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard on 15 under at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he shot a three-under par 69 in his final round. Hojgaard was level with McIlroy with four holes to play, but an excellent approach shot allowed the Northern Irishman to birdie the 16th and stay ahead of the Dane, who then missed a birdie putt on the 18th before McIlroy sealed the victory with a of his own holes. .
“It means a lot because I’ve been through a lot this year, both professionally and personally,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.
“It feels like a fitting end to 2024; There have been many close calls where I haven’t been able to get the job done, but this was a tough day where I was able to get the job done.”
McIlroy’s victory in the Race to Dubai comes after he appeared to be on the verge of ending his 10-year wait for a major in June but struggled in his final round at the US Open, losing by one shot to the American Bryson DeChambeau.
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When asked if he wanted to equal the late Ballesteros’ Race to Dubai record, McIlroy became visibly teary as he explained the significance.
“Everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and Ryder Cup players,” he said.
“In the European dressing room we only have quotes from Seve. We have a dressing room with a Seve shirt from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played.
“He means so much to European golf and to be mentioned in the same breath as him… I’m very proud.”
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(Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
