The one glaring stain was yet another close call at a major championship, this time at Pinehurst No. 2 at the U.S. Open. McIlroy controlled the tournament on the back nine on Sunday but bogeyed three of his final four holes to allow Bryson DeChambeau to swoop in and win his second major title (2020 U.S. Open, Winged Foot).

Rory McIlroy doesn’t have to look far for motivation for next year. All he has to do is glance up at the two players ahead of him in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Rory McIlroy has admitted his failure to secure a major title in 2024 "stings", despite considering it a "successful season" overall. The Northern Irishman has claimed three tournament victories this year - two on the PGA Tour and one on the DP World Tour.

Despite a year of near misses, McIlroy heads into the DP World Tour's finale with one hand on the season-long crown

Rory McIlroy bids to create more history this week in Dubai as the Race to Dubai concludes with the DP World Tour Championship. McIlroy, who enters this week with 4,997.66 points, is the front-runner to banish heartache from his near miss at the US Open and complete the season with a sixth Order of Merit title at the Earth Course,

Rory McIlroy has his sights firmly set on claiming his sixth Race to Dubai title at the DP World Tour Championship, and equalling the feat of the legendary Seve Ballesteros. The Northern Irishman holds a healthy 1,