World No.3 Rory McIlroy has graded his 2024 season ‘a pass’ but admitted the lack of a fifth Major championship still “stings.”
The Northern Irishman came closest to adding another at the US Open, where costly mistakes with his putter – which has been outstanding for the majority of his other starts – late on saw him slip back and ultimately finish second to Bryson DeChambeau.
Otherwise, in the biggest events, McIlroy endured a mixed bag of results with a T22nd at The Masters preceding a T22nd at the PGA Championship and a missed cut at The Open Championship.
Still, no matter what happens at the DP World Tour Championship this week, the 35-year-old will definitely end the year with three victories and eight top-fives.
However, a player of McIlroy’s calibre nearly always judges his season and career on wins alone. Although he is still proud of the number of chances he gave himself in 2024, it still slightly grates on the the four-time Major champion that he does not have another.
Rory McIlroy shows his frustration after missing a putt at the US Open
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Assessing his year as whole, McIlroy said: “Yeah, incredibly consistent again. I think I’ve been really proud of that over the last few years.
“But then at the same time, you know, thinking about the ones that got away. I could be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I am not. So that stings and that’s something that I have to come to terms with. But, at the same time, I’ve got plenty more opportunities in the future.
“I really just tried to focus on the positives this year of consistently performing at the highest level. You know, still having three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week, to win another Race to Dubai title.
“Did I achieve every goal I set for myself this year? Probably not. But I still consider it a successful season.”
And if he was to dish out a grade for himself, what might that be? McIlroy said: “It would be a pass. It wouldn’t be a pass with flying colors. Probably an eight.”
Despite triumphing three times and enjoying a very strong year otherwise, McIlroy admitted the gap between himself and the two Americans above him in the world rankings has potentially grown in 2024 as a result of Scottie Scheffler‘s eight-win campaign and Xander Schauffele‘s double Major…
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