DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 17, 2024

Rory McIlroy

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Winning the DP World Tour Championship and The Race to Dubai. A record third win in this championship, a fourth Rolex Series win and a seventh win in Dubai. What does this one mean to you?

RORY McILROY: It means a lot. I've been through a lot this year professionally, personally. It feels like the fitting end to 2024. You know, yeah, look, I've persevered this year a lot. Had close calls. Wasn't able to get it done.

So the to be able to get over the line, you know, I got off to a great start and didn't have my best in the middle of the round and Rasmus and I both struggled to get momentum.

I thought saving par on 15 was huge. I made four great swings coming in, the wedge on 16, the shot on 18 and two shots on the last. Really pleased with the way I finished and thankfully I hung on on a tough day and got it done.

Q. You said last year you stood on the 18th green with one Højgaard, and you wanted both. How much pressure were you feeling? How were the emotions down the stretch? Because he was looking awfully good?

RORY McILROY: He was. He's such a solid player. Doesn't make a ton of mistakes. Yeah, I was, I was feeling it. I had chances. I had a chance 10 that slipped by; a chance on 11. I bogeyed 13; a 7-iron in my hand on 14 going into the par 5.

Going into the last few holes, I needed something to happen, and the wedge shot to a foot on 16 was the catalyst I needed to push on and play those last couple holes well.

Q. You've won your sixth Race to Dubai equalling the legendary Severiano Ballesteros. Describe the sense of achievement.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, it's really cool. I think everyone know what is Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup players. European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes of Seve. We had a changing room with Seve's shirt from '95, the last Ryder Cup he played (tearing up). He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I'm very proud.

Q. Colin Montgomerie when he won his eighth Order of Merit, I for one and many others thought that would never be challenged. Now you have an opportunity at the age of 35 to match and potentially beat it.

RORY McILROY: I'm up for it. I've just won my third in a row, and I've really made it a priority of my schedule over the last few years to give myself the best chance coming into the end of the year to win The Race to Dubai. I don't see that being any different for the foreseeable future.

You know, going to go for my seventh next year and try to chase Monty down.

Q. Your last competitive start of the year. You can celebrate hard?

RORY McILROY: I can. I'm looking forward to it. It's been a long year, my 27th tournament, which is a lot to me. Looking forward to a little bit of downtime. Have a lot of friends and my family here in Dubai, so I'm sure we'll have a good night tonight.