Rory McIlroy is within the field seat so as to add one other legacy piece to his glittering profession at this week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, however as males’s skilled golf’s panorama modifications so too would possibly his future.
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The 35-year-old can solely be caught within the Race to Dubai Standings by Thirston Lawrence if the fourth-place finisher at this 12 months’s Open Championship claims victory and McIlroy finishes worse than solo eleventh.
The Northern Irishman is chasing a sixth Harry Vardon Trophy to attract degree with the late, nice Seve Ballesteros and be two titles behind all-time chief Colin Montgomerie.
McIlroy is the all-time highest cash earner in Europe and finally week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship – the place he completed tied for third – he made it clear that he’s motivated by taking place in historical past as one of many biggest European gamers.
He referred to as out Sir Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Bernhard Langer as legends whose standing he craves.
Successful the Race to Dubai for a 3rd consecutive 12 months could be one other vital step to attaining that ambition as McIlroy could be the primary participant this century to finish a hat-trick, and solely the fourth ever after Montgomerie (1993-99), Ballesteros (1976-78) and Peter Oosterhuis (1971-74).
Legacy seems to be closely on McIlroy’s thoughts proper now because the PGA Tour and LIV Golf draw nearer to reaching their merger.
He has been a figurehead all through the three years of preventing between the warring factions and up to date feedback McIlroy made to the UK Telegraph trace that he has been worn down by the gruelling course of of getting to entrance up week after week in the course of the turbulent time.
“There’s a number of tournaments that I performed this 12 months that I don’t often play and that I won’t play subsequent 12 months,” he mentioned.
“Effectively, at this level in my profession, I’m 35 and have been out right here for 17, 18 years.
“I’m simply going to go to the place that I take pleasure in and the place I play effectively. Look I’ve achieved the onerous slog. I’ve achieved that kind of 25 to 30 occasions a 12 months. I’m not getting any youthful.”
The world quantity three has performed 25 occasions to date this 12 months, 11 of which have counted to the Race to Dubai rankings.
McIlroy received the Dubai Desert Basic in January, and his runner-up finishes on the US Open, Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship all contributed strongly to his nearly 1,800-point lead over Lawrence.
“Whenever you get to the enterprise finish of issues on the finish of the 12 months, you begin to realise at the very least I’ve put collectively a 12 months that I’m fairly pleased with, even when it hasn’t culminated in among the issues that I’ve needed to realize,” McIlroy, who did not win a serious this 12 months, mentioned.
He’s proud that he had been “extremely constant”, however continues “fascinated about those that received away”.
“I may very well be sitting up right here with a fifth main title and I’m not. In order that stings and that’s one thing that I’ve to return to phrases with,” he mentioned.
“You’ve received two guys on the prime of the World Rankings with Xander (Schauffele) successful two majors and Scottie (Scheffler) successful a Masters and a Gamers and the Olympics.
“They definitely separated themselves from the pack this 12 months. I’m very conscious of that, and it solely makes me extra motivated to attempt to emulate what they did this 12 months.”
These phrases level to lessening his load subsequent 12 months to strive peak for the majors, and keep away from placing himself by means of the weekly grind of somebody like Lawrence who has performed in 25 European occasions this 12 months.
The South African is a four-time winner on the DP World Tour and is main the pack of gamers who’ve grinded away all season to attempt to earn one of many ten PGA Tour playing cards up for grabs for these not already exempt – reminiscent of Australians Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee who will each tee it up this week.
That carrot was first dangled to European gamers final 12 months as a part of the strategic alliance between the 2 excursions.
It has not been wholeheartedly welcomed nonetheless with main winner Matt Fitzpatrick expressing his fury a number of instances in regards to the DP World Tour being become a feeder tour.
PGA Tour gamers have additionally been handed entries into marquee DP World Tour occasions on the expense of European card holders, reminiscent of on the BMW PGA Championship which drew the wrath of Fitzpatrick.
Whether or not that system might be tweaked going ahead stays to be seen as {the golfing} world eagerly awaits information from the negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
The DP World Tour will little question be impacted and so they waited till this week to lastly unveil the schedule for the 2025 season.
The hectic nature of the golf schedule is showcased by the very fact the following season begins in Brisbane subsequent week with the Australian PGA Championship as a part of a five-week ‘Opening Swing’ in Australia, South Africa and Mauritius.
Prize cash has been elevated to file ranges with US$153 million up for grabs throughout the 42 Race to Dubai occasions – excluding majors – which might be performed in 26 completely different international locations.
There’ll certainly be questions of fatigue raised with so many occasions scheduled, however many European gamers will push by means of it as 2025 is a Ryder Cup 12 months and they are going to be determined to get on the staff.
The likes of McIlroy will stick with enjoying the majors and the showpiece occasions on the DP World and PGA Excursions, however rookies hungry to be on Luke Donald’s staff at Bethpage Black might be grinding away.
The most important clues for Donald’s captain’s picks could also be given on the Group Cup which returns to the schedule in January.
Francesco Molinari will lead Continental Europe in a three-day match play occasion in opposition to Nice Britain and Eire, who might be guided by Justin Rose.
There are some large absences from the line-up nonetheless because the European Open has been ditched following nine-year naming sponsor Porsche dropping its backing final 12 months after the automotive firm’s ambassadors, and LIV gamers, Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer have been banned from enjoying within the German occasion.
The Scandinavian Combined is a shock axing after DP World Tour chief Man Kinnings had spoken just lately about his ardour for mixed males’s and girls’s tournaments.
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