Rory McIlroy signed off his 2024 marketing campaign in fashion by including a dramatic DP World Tour Championship victory to his season-long Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy began the ultimate spherical tied for the lead and turned a two-stroke deficit right into a three-shot benefit, following an excellent burst of 4 consecutive birdies across the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Two bogeys in a five-hole stretch across the flip noticed McIlroy slip again tied for the lead alongside taking part in accomplice Rasmus Hojgaard, earlier than two birdies within the final three holes closed a three-under 69 and accomplished a powerful victory.
McIlroy ended the week on 15 underneath and forward of Hojgaard, who leads the ten gamers who secured PGA Tour playing cards from the Race to Dubai rankings and twin membership subsequent season, whereas Shane Lowry ended the week tied-third alongside Adam Scott and Antoine Rozner.
A 3rd DP World Tour Championship victory additionally confirmed McIlroy because the Race to Dubai champion for a sixth time and for the third successive season, with Thriston Lawrence – the one participant who may have caught him within the season-long standing – ending tied-Thirtieth.
How McIlroy signed off season in fashion
McIlroy misjudged his putt from off the opening inexperienced and Hojgaard three-putted from the perimeter to each make bogey and fall two behind Rozner, who rolled in a 20-foot birdie on the first, just for the pair to reap the benefits of the par-five subsequent.
The Northern Irishman had missed his eagle putt on the second however fired his strategy shut on the third to select up a shot, with McIlroy rolling in from 10 toes on the fourth and fifth to make it 4 consecutive birdies and seize early management of the match.
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Rory McIlroy recovered from a bogey on the primary to make 4 birdies in a row on the DP World Tour Championship and put himself in a robust place.
McIlroy briefly moved three clear when Rozner made a three-putt bogey from lengthy vary on the sixth, though he didn’t convert from inside 5 toes on the seventh and allowed each Rozner and Hojgaard to shut with birdies on the identical par 5.
A par from Hojgaard was sufficient to succeed in the flip one behind McIlroy, who discovered tough off the tee and didn’t stand up and down, whereas Rozner – taking part in within the group forward – double-bogeyed the identical gap to fall three off the tempo.
McIlroy began his again 9 with a run of two-putt pars earlier than handing Hojgaard a share of the lead when he bogeyed the thirteenth, with the world No 3 squandering an eight-foot birdie probability on the 14th and likewise failing to reap the benefits of the par-five subsequent.
McIlroy regarded in peril of struggling one other near-miss, having already posted 4 runner-up finishes in 2024
Nothing may separate the ultimate group till McIlroy fired his strategy on the par-four sixteenth to tap-in vary, edging him one forward, whereas Hojgaard needed to drain a 20-footer to scramble an unlikely par after a wayward tee shot on the par-three subsequent.
McIlroy missed an eight-foot birdie probability to increase his benefit however remained forward going into the par-five final, the place he two-putted from simply off the inexperienced to shut out victory with a birdie.
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Rory McIlroy’s swing modifications helped him produce some improbable irons photographs on the best way to clinching the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
A closing par left Hojgaard on 13 underneath and solo second, with Rozner securing his PGA Tour card with a share of third, whereas Tyrrell Hatton completed 5 strokes again in sixth spot forward of Jesper Svensson, Joaquin Niemann, Keita Nakajima and Robert MacIntyre.
Emotional victory a ‘becoming finish’ to McIlroy’s 2024
McIlroy’s newest success is his fourth worldwide win of 2024 and first on the DP World Tour for the reason that Hero Dubai Desert Basic in January, having skilled 4 runner-up finishes – together with on the US Open – and quite a few near-misses throughout an eventful yr.
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Here is a glance again at Rory McIlroy’s near-misses in 2024, together with the US Open and the Amgen Irish Open
“It [winning] means a lot,” McIlroy stated. “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 bought off to an incredible begin after which did not have my greatest spherical, saving par on 15 was big after which I had 4 nice swings coming in. Actually happy with the best way I completed and fortunately I held on on a tricky day.
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An emotional Rory McIlroy cannot maintain again the tears after clinching the DP World Tour Championship title and a sixth Race to Dubai crown.
“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’s subsequent?
The 2025 DP World Tour season begins on Thursday with the BMW Australian PGA Championship, held at Royal Queensland GC in Brisbane and dwell on Sky Sports activities. Rory McIlroy will subsequent be in motion on the Hero Dubai Desert Basic from January 16-19. Stream the DP World Tour and extra with NOW.
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