Rory McIlroy admits his failure to win the US Open still “stings” as he bids to match Seve Ballesteros by winning a sixth Race to Dubai title.
Thriston Lawrence is the only player who can prevent McIlroy from topping the money list for the third year in a row by winning the DP World Tour Championship, and even that won’t be enough if McIlroy finishes 11th or better in the field of 50 players in Dubai.
Matching Ballesteros’ total and closing in on Colin Montgomerie’s record eight titles would be a fitting reward for a season that saw McIlroy win three times and record nine more top 10s, but missing out on a fifth major title in June remains a problem. painful memory.
McIlroy looked poised to win his first major since 2014 at Pinehurst, but bogeyed three of the final four holes to finish one shot behind Bryson DeChambeau.
“Again, incredibly consistent,” McIlroy said when asked to evaluate his season. “I think I’ve been really proud of it over the last few years.
“But at the same time, you know, thinking about those who got away, I could be sitting here with a fifth major title and I’m not.
“So it stings and it’s something I have to accept, but at the same time I have a lot more opportunities in the future.
“But I’ve really tried to focus on the positives this year, consistently performing at the highest level, consistently getting three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week, to take another title in the Race to Dubai.
“Have I achieved all the goals I set for myself this year? Probably not. But I still consider it a successful season.
“You have two guys [Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele] at the top of the world rankings winning majors. Scottie wins a Masters and a Players (Championship) and the Olympic Games.
“They certainly stood out from the pack this year. I’m obviously very aware of that, and it only motivates me more to try and emulate what they did this year.
McIlroy’s stated goal is to become the most successful European player of all time, which – in terms of major championship wins alone – would mean surpassing Harry Vardon’s tally of seven.
Nick Faldo is next in line with six majors and Ballesteros has won five, although McIlroy acknowledges that the charismatic Spaniard has played an immeasurable role in the growth of European golf.
“I’m a little too young to remember much of Seve’s career and everything he did,” the 35-year-old said.
“Seve is almost like a character, not mythical for me, but he was just a little bit ahead of my time.
“But he was my father’s favorite player and [with] the huge impact he’s had on European golf from a Ryder Cup perspective and what he’s done for the European Tour, he means a lot to golf in general.
“So to be on par with him and have a career that can somewhat compare to his is very cool.”