Tearful Rory McIlroy offers emotional interview after season-ending Dubai win

Rory McIlroy’s birdie putt fell into the underside of the outlet, and for only a second, his physique was overcome with emotion.

However the emotion that joined this birdie on the 18th on the DP World Tour Championship to assert his fourth and last worldwide win of 2024 was not the same old mix of jubilation and achievement. It an emotion of a deeper, rawer variety — crashing over him immediately and but constructing inside him for months. That emotion seemed like reduction.

The occasions of the last few hours had pushed him to the brink. As soon as once more he discovered himself charging down the again 9 at a match clinging to a lead, and as soon as once more it appeared just like the forces of destiny had been conspiring in opposition to him. He gave up 4 photographs between the seventh and 14th holes, making a pair of bogeys and lacking a pair of birdies on par-5s. However then got here an all-important birdie on the sixteenth, and by the point he strode as much as the 18th inexperienced even a three-putt would have been sufficient to safe the victory over Rasmus Hojgaard.

McIlroy two-putted for birdie, and the wave washed over him. He’d gained his last begin of 2024, and his sixth Race to Dubai Championship — the DP World Tour’s season-long prize — tying Seve Ballesteros’ document. He was reminded of that truth a couple of minutes later, as he stood for an interview with the DP World Tour’s broadcast crew, and as Rory tried to search out the phrases to explain the depth and breadth of tying Ballesteros, he started to cry.

“Yeah, it’s actually cool,” he finally choked out. “I feel everybody is aware of what Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup gamers. Within the European Ryder Cup locker room, all now we have are quotes of Seve. We had a altering room with Seve’s shirt from ’95, the final Ryder Cup he performed. He means a lot to European golf and for me to be talked about in the identical breath, I’m very proud.”

“I feel what I’ve discovered is it doesn’t must be vital for everybody else,” McIlroy mentioned. “I feel what I did immediately could be very significant for me personally. I’d suppose from an outdoor perspective, it mightn’t be that significant if persons are simply trying from the skin, when it comes to different issues that I’ve achieved within the sport and issues that I didn’t obtain this yr. However simply because it perhaps isn’t as vital to them doesn’t imply that it shouldn’t be as vital to me.”

“Look, yeah, I understand how persons are going to view my yr and I view my yr equally,” he mentioned. “However on the similar time, I nonetheless have to recollect I gained 4 instances and I gained a second Race to Dubai. I accrued plenty of large finishes and large performances, and the 2 guys that had higher years than me have had profession years. Xander gained two majors, and Scottie has gained a Gamers and a Masters and an Olympic Gold Medal. They’re the one two guys this yr that I feel which have had higher years than me.”

It is going to be straightforward for McIlroy’s critics to see Sunday’s end because the continuation of a tortured current aggressive life. Hell, he sees the overlaps too. This win wasn’t almost as traditionally vital because the one which skittered away in Pinehurst, and his competitors wasn’t almost as fearsome. Nonetheless, he blinked down the stretch on Sunday in a lot the identical manner. This one didn’t burn him, however had he defeated his demons, or just pushed them apart?

Both manner, McIlroy won’t be pressured to reply these questions on Sunday. He ends 2024 with a four-win season he is aware of will at all times be remembered for the actual fact it was not 5, however he leaves Dubai with a victory — a historic victory — that may very well be sufficient to drown the bitter style.

Quickly there will likely be an offseason. And shortly after that, a brand-new yr brimming with chance. However now? Now there’s a cause to maintain shifting ahead.

What a reduction.