A tearful Rory McIlroy gives an emotional interview after his season-ending win in Dubai

Rory McIlroy’s birdie putt landed at the bottom of the hole and for just a second, his body was overcome with emotion.

But the excitement that joined this bird on the 18th in PD World Tournament Championship to claim his fourth and final world victory of 2024 was not the usual mix of joy and achievement. It seemed to be an emotion of a deeper, rawer kind—crashing over him in an instant and still building within him for months. That emotion was visible relief.

The events of the previous hours had pushed him over the edge. Once again he found himself playing the back nine in a tournament that grabbed the lead, and again it seemed as if the forces of fate were conspiring against him. He dropped four shots between the seventh and 14th holes, making a pair of bogeys and missing a pair of birdies on the par-5. But then came a crucial birdie on the 16th, and by the time he got to the 18th green, a three-putt would have been enough to secure victory over Rasmus Hojgaard.

McIlroy doubles for birdie, and the wave washes over him. He had won his last start of 2024 and his sixth Race to the Dubai Championship – DP World Tour season prize – equaling Seve Ballestero’s record. He was reminded of this fact minutes later as he stood for an interview with the DP World Tour broadcast team, and as Rory struggled to find the words to describe the depth and breadth of Ballestero’s connection, he began to cry.

“Yeah, that’s great,” he eventually choked out. “I think everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup players. In the European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are Seve quotes. We had a dressing room with Seve’s jersey from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played. He means a lot to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”

“I think what I’ve learned is that it doesn’t have to be important to everybody else,” McIlroy said. “I think what I did today is very significant for me personally. I would think from an outside perspective, it might not be as meaningful if people are just looking from the outside, in terms of other things I’ve accomplished in the game and things I haven’t accomplished this year. But just because maybe it’s not that important to them, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be that important to me.”

“Look, yeah, I know how people are going to look at my year and I look at my year the same way,” he said. “But at the same time, I have to remember that I won four times and won a second race in Dubai. I’ve racked up a lot of big finishes and big performances, and the two guys that have had better years than me have had career years. Xander won two majors, and Scottie has won a Players and a Masters and an Olympic Gold Medal. They’re the only two guys this year that I think have had better years than me.”

It will be easy for McIlroy’s critics to see Sunday’s finish as the continuation of a tortured competitive life of late. Hell, you even see the overlaps. That win wasn’t as historically significant as the one he pulled off at Pinehurst, and his competition wasn’t as formidable. Still, he blinked Sunday the same way. This one didn’t burn him, but had he defeated his demons, or just pushed them aside?

Either way, McIlroy won’t be forced to answer those questions on Sunday. He ends 2024 with a four-win season that he knows will always be remembered for not being five, but he leaves Dubai with one win – one HISTorIcaL victory – that might be enough to drown the bitter taste.

There will be an off-season soon. And right after that, a brand new year full of possibilities. But now? Now there’s a reason to keep going.

What a relief.