(Reuters) – World number three Rory McIlroy is taking plenty of positives from his performances this year despite falling short at the U.S. Open, as he bids to win a sixth Race to Dubai title.
The 35-year-old Northern Irishman has won three trophies across the PGA and European Tours in 2024, including the Dubai Desert Classic, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Shane Lowry and the Wells Fargo Championship.
McIlroy was on the verge of victory at the U.S. Open in June, but was unable to end a decade-long hunt for his fifth major as he lost to Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke.
“Incredibly consistent again. I’ve been really proud of that over the last few years, but then at the same time, thinking about the ones that got away,” McIlroy said on Wednesday.
“I could be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I am not. So that stings and that’s something that I have to come to terms with, but at the same time, I’ve got plenty more opportunities in the future.
“But I really just tried to focus on the positives this year of consistently performing at the highest level. Still having three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week, to win another Race to Dubai title.”
McIlroy, who is 1,785.02 points ahead of second-placed South African Thriston Lawrence, can win the Race to Dubai title if he finishes in the top 10 at the DP World Tour Championship.
The late Seve Ballesteros won the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai crown, previously named the Order of Merit, six times between 1976-91. Only Colin Montgomerie of Scotland has more, with a record eight titles.
“I guess I am a little too young to remember a lot of Seve’s career and things that he did,” McIlroy said of the Spaniard.
“Seve is almost like, not a mythical character to me, but was just a little bit before my time. But he was my dad’s favourite player…
“Seve is to European golf is what Arnold Palmer was to golf in America. So to draw level with him and to have a career that can sort of somewhat stack up against his is very cool.”
The DP World Tour Championship starts on Thursday at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
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