Things are tough at the top. That’s the case for world number three Rory McIlroy. You know you are good when a four win season can be classified as a “down” year.
McIlroy won the European Tour’s Tour Championship and with it the Race to Dubai (their version of the FedEx Cup) to give him four victories on the PGA and Euro tours in 2015. But wins at the Wells Fargo, WGC-Match Play, Omega Dubai Classic and DP World Tour Championship do not a major make.
And that’s what it is all about for a player of McIlroy’s stature. Majors are what drives him and yes, these wins are significant in a season cut so painfully short by his “kick-about” ankle injury and they will move him closer to regaining the top spot in the world rankings but that’s a small consolation.
Rory’s career has had its up and downs both on and off the course but it will be defined by his major total not by Race to Dubai trophies or FedEx Cups. It’s all about the majors but seeing him round into shape and finally start striking the ball like only he can is a welcome sight and bodes well for an interesting 2016.
From European Tour.com:
Rory McIlroy won a third Race to Dubai title as he beat Andy Sullivan by one shot to win the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
The Northern Irishman arrived at Jumeirah Golf Estates knowing that a victory would not only give him a second triumph on the Earth Course but also a second consecutive European Tour crown.
On a dramatic final afternoon of The European Tour season, McIlroy did not have it all his own way as he went toe-to-toe on the leaderboard with Sullivan, with closest Race to Dubai rival Danny Willett snapping at his heels.
But four birdies in five holes from the 11th saw him surge ahead and even a bogey after finding the water on the 17th could not derail the 2012 champion as he signed for a 66 that left him at 21 under and one shot clear of Sullivan. Read full story here.
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