Rory McIlroy has perfect ending to season of heartbreak with £4 million bonus

Rory McIlroy has endured a number of near-misses in 2024, but the Northern Irishman got himself over the line on on Sunday to win the DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai crown

Rory McIlroy has rounded off his season in style in the Middle East, clinching both the DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai title at the Earth Course on Sunday.

McIlroy has won the season-long race for a third-straight year, the sixth time he has taken home the honour, matching the record of European great, Seve Ballesteros. This time around though he topped it off in style, winning the season finale at the DP World Tour Championship by two shots over Rasmus Hojgaard.

With his two pieces of silverware comes a cool financial bonus too, with the 35-year-old banking £2.4 million for winning the final event of the year, as well as £1.6 million to go with his Race to Dubai crown.

It brings to an end a topsy-turvy year for McIlroy, who despite winning four times across the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, has suffered his fair share of heartbreak. No more so than at the US Open in June, where he surrendered a two shot lead with four holes to play to Bryson DeChambeau, ensuring his wait for a fifth major title will enter an 11th year.

More Sunday hurt has since followed at his home event, the Irish Open at Royal County Down, as well as at the BMW PGA Championship, where he lost in a playoff to Billy Horschel. McIlroy finds himself back in the winners' circle once more though, with his DP World Tour Championship win his third at the event.

The Northern Irishman headed into the final round tied at the top at 12-under-par alongside Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner, but was able to split himself form his rivals with a classy showing around a course he knows so well. Despite beginning with a bogey at the first, McIlroy kicked into gear by making four birdies on the bounce between the second and fifth.

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Whilst he looked like he was set to win the event at a canter, the Northern Irishman stalled somewhat, playing his next 10 holes in two-over to allow Hojgaard to battle his way back into the contest. Stood on the 16th fairway, the leaders both had wedge shots into the green, but it was McIlroy who capitalised.

Playing first, the four-time major winner played an incredible shot at the pin to leave him a tap-in birdie. Hojgaard meanwhile could only out his effort to 10-feet, before missing his birdie attempt to allow McIlroy to pull one clear. Both the class and experience then shone again at the par-three 17th.

A superb six-iron from McIlroy saw him play to the centre of the green, whilst an under-pressure Hojgaard pulled his attempt left. Interestingly, the young Dane opted to putt his second shot into the grain from off the green, which appeared to be a mistake after leaving himself another lengthy putt for par.

Keen to keep himself in the mix though, Hojgaard showed his worth, rolling in the attempt for par, which could not be matched by McIlroy, sending them to the 18th with one-shot between them. Up the final hole though it was the Northern Irishman who prevailed, bettering his rival's par with birdie to become Europe's No. 1 golfer once more.