Tied for the lead with three holes left in an exhausting season for Rory McIlroy, he launched a pitching wedge toward the 16th green in Dubai and barked out desperate instructions. It dropped in front of the flag, a foot from the hole, a shot that carried him to another victory in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, his fourth win of the year, and a sixth title as No. 1 on the European tour. “I’m going to look back on 2024 and I’m going to have four wins,” he said.
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TiedfortheleadwiththreeholesleftinanexhaustingseasonforRoryMcIlroy,helaunchedapitchingwedgetowardthe16thgreeninDubaiandbarkedoutdesperateinstructions.
“Go!Go!Go!”heurgedthegolfballasitdescendedoverthewater.
Itdroppedinfrontoftheflag,afootfromthehole,ashotthatcarriedhimtoanothervictoryintheseason-endingDPWorldTourChampionship,hisfourthwinoftheyear,andasixthtitleasNo.1ontheEuropeantour.
Byallaccounts,itwasagreatyear.
Butit’sdifferentwhenthosetrophies—andabigonethatwasmissing—belongtoMcIlroy.
“I’mgoingtolookbackon2024andI’mgoingtohavefourwins,”hesaid.
