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Rory McIlroy admits his failure to finish his decade-long main drought this 12 months “stings” however he nonetheless courses 2024 as a “successful season” as he bids to shut out a sixth Race to Dubai title this week.
McIlroy performs within the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, reside on Sky Sports activities Golf, from Thursday morning the place he’ll goal to safe the tour’s No 1 spot for a 3rd in a row.
A top-11 end on Sunday will assure him the $2m (£1,569,988) prize as Europe’s prime golfer once more regardless of the place South African Thriston Lawrence, the one different participant nonetheless in Race to Dubai competition, finishes.
McIlroy has gained three tournaments this 12 months – twice on the PGA Tour and as soon as on the DP World Tour, again in Dubai in January – however a fifth main remained elusive after an agonising one-shot defeat to Bryson DeChambeau within the last spherical of June’s US Open amid a late collapse over the ultimate holes.
Reflecting on his 12 months as an entire, McIlroy mentioned that though he could not have achieved all of his objectives for 2024, he was nonetheless happy with how he had performed total.
“Incredibly consistent again. I’ve been really proud of that over the past few years,” he mentioned in Wednesday’s pre-tournament press convention in Dubai.
“However then, on the similar time, excited about those that have gotten away. I needs to be sitting up right here with a fifth main title and I am not, in order that stings and that is one thing that I’ve needed to come to phrases with. However on the similar time, I’ve bought lots extra alternatives sooner or later.
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McIlroy hits a monster drive 353 yards on the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship throughout his opening spherical of 5 beneath par
“But I really just tried to focus on the positives this year of consistently performing at the highest level. You know, still having three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week, to win another Race to Dubai title.
“Did I obtain each objective I set myself this 12 months? Most likely not, however I nonetheless take into account it a profitable season.”
Asked what grade he would give himself for 2024, the Northern Irishman replied: “It could be a move. It would not be a move with flying colors. Most likely an eight.”
He is set to finish the year third in the world golf rankings behind American duo Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.
“You’ve got bought two guys on the prime of the world rankings, Xander profitable two majors, Scottie profitable a Masters, a Gamers and the Olympics, they definitely separated themselves from the pack this 12 months,” admitted McIlroy.
“I am clearly very conscious of that and it solely makes me extra motivated to attempt to emulate what they did this 12 months.”
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All of McIlroy’s photographs on the menacing 18th gap on the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
McIlroy explains schedule plans for 2025
A day after the DP World Tour schedule for 2025 was revealed, McIlroy was requested about his personal plans for subsequent 12 months after experiences he’s to play in fewer tournaments after making 27 appearances throughout the globe in 2024.
He mentioned it could be his commitments on the PGA Tour – the place he has performed 19 instances – that might doubtless cut back barely.
Relating to the DP World Tour the place he has featured in seven common tournaments, McIlroy mentioned: “That’ll look very related going ahead
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McIlroy exhibits off his ability by hitting an unbelievable half-volley as he practises forward of the primary spherical of the DP World Tour Championship
“I’ll most typically start in the Middle East in Dubai and then I don’t really play over here again until the Scottish Open [in July]. So I’ll play that, that’s a tournament I’ve enjoyed playing the last few years, especially leading up to The Open Championship.
“Then as soon as the season in America is completed then come again over. The way in which the schedule is, Irish Open, Wentworth, Dunhill, these two [Play-Off] occasions, it is going to look similar to what I’ve at all times performed.
“If anything, the schedule will be reduced over in the States in terms of some of the tournaments that I’ve played this year that I typically don’t play, those are the ones that I would shave off.”
Rory hopes for ‘very cool’ Seve-equalling sixth
To begin with, McIlroy will bid to complete this 12 months on a excessive by securing the Race to Dubai at a event he has gained outright twice on the Greg Norman-designed Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“Coming here last year I already had it wrapped up, which was obviously really nice, but at the same time maybe lacked a little bit of motivation within the tournament because of that,” he mentioned.
“So knowing that I still have to go out and play pretty well depending on what Thriston does, I think that gives me a little extra motivation to keep a bit more focused this week.”
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McIlroy sinks an enormous 53-foot putt for birdie to maneuver him inside two of the lead through the last spherical of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
McIlroy begins the week a commanding 1,785.02 factors forward of 27-year-old Lawrence, who has recorded 10 top-10 finishes this 12 months, together with a sixth place in Abu Dhabi final week.
“He’s quite a creative player. He plays a lot of different shots and he’s had a wonderful year,” mentioned McIlroy.
“We had a good chat last week about what his plans are for next year and obviously PGA Tour card and his plans to make that work over there as well.”
And will McIlroy safe his sixth Race to Dubai title on Sunday then he’ll draw stage with the legendary Seve Ballesteros within the all-time rankings and be simply two away from document eight-time winner Colin Montgomerie.
“I guess I am a little too young to remember a lot of Seve’s career and things that he did. Seve is almost like, not a mythical character to me, but was just a little bit before my time,” he mentioned.
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“But he was my dad’s favourite player. The immense impact he had on European golf from a Ryder Cup and from what he did for the European Tour, he means a lot to the overall game of golf but specifically in this part of the world and on this tour.
“To attract stage with him and to have a profession that may considerably stack up towards his could be very cool.”
Who will win the Race to Dubai? Watch the DP World Tour Championship this week reside on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stay protection begins on Thursday from 7am on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream the DP World Tour and extra with NOW.
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Publish date : 2024-11-24 08:08:04
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