Rory McIlroy ranks his season out of 10 as he chases Seve Ballesteros record

Rory McIlroy has been reviewing his season ahead of this weekend's season-ending DP World Tour Championship. The Holywood golfer claimed three wins in 2024 including the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Wells Fargo Championship and Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Shane Lowry.

He remains in pole position to seal a sixth Race to Dubai title, offering him the chance to go level with legendary Seve Ballesteros in winning the order of merit six times.

There's plenty to be encouraged by, but it was also a year when McIlroy suffered an agonising meltdown at the US Open, throwing away victory in the final few holes to lose out to Bryson DeChambeau.

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After all that, McIlroy has rated himself an eight out of 10 for this year.

Asked to assess his year, 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 a way. 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.

"But 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.

"You know, did I achieve every goal I set for myself this year? Probably not.

"But I still consider it a successful season. You've got two guys at the top of the World Rankings down there winning two majors. You know, Scottie winning a Masters and a Players and the Olympics.

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"They certainly separated themselves from the pack this year. I'm obviously very aware of that, and it only makes me more motivated to try to emulate what they did this year."

Pushed to grade himself this year, McIlroy said: "It would be a pass. It wouldn't be a pass with playing colours. Probably an eight."

Looking ahead to the Race to Dubai finale, and a chance to equal Ballesteros' record, McIlroy added: "Seve is almost like, not a mythical character to me, but was just a little bit before my time. But he was my dad's favourite player, and I don't think it can be understated the immense impact he had on European golf from the Ryder Cup to what he did for The European Tour.

"He means a lot to the overall game of golf but specifically in this part of the world and on this tour. So to draw level with him and to have a career that can sort of somewhat stack up against his is very cool."

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