Wiping away tears, an emotional Rory McIlroy tried to put into some kind of perspective his 2024 year, after his win in the Race To Dubai Championship final.
He admitted his personal life as well as his golfing year had produced problems and difficulties.
Usually it’s a given in sport that if you’re hit with serious personal problems, the first casualty is almost always your form. When personal scandals descended on Tiger Woods years back, he just stopped playing golf, full stop.
Trying to line up a 2-metre putt to win a golf tournament when embarrassing details of your private life are scattered across the page of every paper in America is a pretty tough ask. To Rory’s credit when news broke mid-year that he and his wife had separated, he didn’t run for cover, he just kept on playing. It probably helped his golf no end that a week or so later they were back together again. But as we clearly saw after his win in Dubai last weekend, these things have taken their emotional toll on the Irishman. He also admitted he’d played in 27 tournaments this year, way more than his normal schedule of around 20 per year. Maybe he’s stumbled upon a new cure for grief - more golf.
His win in that DP World Tour final was his third in 2024, two of them coming in the deserts of the Middle East, as well as the Wells Fargo Championship on the US Tour back in May.
Frustration probably summed up his golf in 2024. His record in the Majors this year makes for an ugly read, for the most part - missing the cut at the Open Championship, a tie for 22nd in the Masters, 12th at the USPGA and a heartbreaking 2nd to Bryson DeChambeau in the US Open. So his Major drought continues, now stretching over 10 years.
All of this helps explain his emotional state immediately after his win in Dubai. That too was an energy-draining exercise as Rasmus Hojgaard took him right to the death, the 72nd hole, before a McIlroy win was assured. The two, playing together in the last pair, staged in effect what was an enthralling match play seesaw over the back nine. Rory looked as if he was going to run away with the title after stringing 4 birdies back-to-back on the front nine to lead at one stage near the turn by 3 strokes. Doubt crept unfortunately into his game at that point. His driving lost a little of its normal accuracy, coupled with a three-putt green and a couple of Hojgaard birdies and the two were suddenly all square, both at 13 under. Rory rediscovered his mojo over the last three holes. A brilliant 6 iron to within a couple of feet to a tight pin placement on the par 3 16th which was playing 242 yards and a birdie 4 on the par 5 18th to Hoigaard’s par gave Rory a slightly comfortable looking 2-shot victory and a US$8million winner’s cheque.
Across the Atlantic a sense of deja vu descended on the Women’s Tour as Nelly Korda racked up her 7th win of the year, confirming her Number One world ranking by taking out the Annika Championship. It’s the first time in 13 years a player has won 7 titles in a year on this Tour.
Lydia Ko, after a third round of 65, had a longish shot at winning the title but a bogey-plagued final round saw her finish in a tie for 14th place. This was Lydia’s first outing for a month, so to finish the tournament at 6 under for her 72 holes I’m sure has satisfied her that her game is in good shape as she prepares for the rich Ladies Tour finale this coming week.
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