Dubai:
World number one and 2014 Race to Dubai winner Rory McIlroy hopes he can go one better in his season-ending tournament in Australia this week.
Already declared winner of the Race to Dubai at the end of the Turkish Open last week, McIlroy kept himself in contention for the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship. The Northern Irishman ended the fourth day tied second along with Victory Dubuisson and Justin Rose with a 14-under par.
McIlroy described his second Race to Dubai crown in three years as a “great feeling”. But what had fuelled his seasonal climax was a remarkable summer that included The European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship in May, followed by the The Open Championship and US PGA Championship either side of a first World Golf Championships victory at the Bridgestone Invitational.
“It’s a great feeling to know that I’ve played the best golf throughout the season of any of the guys for the second time in three years, it’s really nice,” McIlroy said after finishing two shots behind Henrik Stenson at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Sunday.
“I never expected 14 under to have a remote chance of winning this golf tournament. It just seemed like no one really took the tournament by the scruff of the neck and went with it. I just didn’t play well enough to win this week, and if I had of won by playing like that, it would have been a bit of a surprise,” he added.
“It’s been a fantastic season. Obviously the wins have been great but I think what I’m really proud of is weeks like this week where I haven’t quite played my best but still be able to give myself a chance to win tournaments, and that’s really what I think will stand me in good stead going forward and looking into 2015 and beyond, having these bad weeks where previously I might have missed cuts, I’m still contending for tournaments and that’s exciting.”
Given such a form, McIlroy insisted he had all the reasons to be hopeful for a steady season in 2015. “I’ve got a lot of positives heading into 2015 and something I’m really pleased about this year is that consistency that I’ve shown in my golf. I haven’t finished outside the top 25. My last few results have been very consistent, very good, and a lot of good stuff going into next year,” he observed.
“I felt the most comfortable with my game on the first day and then it just sort of I didn’t quite have it for the rest of the week. So I need to just try and work on it. I’ve got an event coming up in Australia next week, the Australian Open, so I will try and go there and finish the season off with a win,” McIlroy promised.
“All the focus in the new year will be geared towards getting ready for Augusta and being ready for April, and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got a chance to win the career Grand Slam at 25, so a lot to work hard on and a lot to try and achieve next year,” he added.
