Rory McIlroy claims he’s done something ‘amazing’ this year which he never thought would be possible when he turned pro

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Rory McIlroy is held to the very highest standards in golf but even the man himself concedes 2024 has delivered something he never thought possible.

McIlroy lost out in the US Open to keep his wait for a fifth major going into an 11th season but in the main, his 2024 was a success.

He won alongside Shane Lowry at The Zurich, won the Wells Fargo the week after, and finished a respectable ninth in the TOUR Championship.

• READ MORE: Lexi Thompson suggests what Rory McIlroy once did was the ‘most impressive’ thing she’s seen on the golf course

Furthermore, McIlroy sealed yet another Race to Dubai win to make it six Order of Merit wins and tie the legendary Seve Ballesteros.

Ballesteros, of course, is the pillar which all European golfers pit themselves against. And according to McIlroy, going level with Seve was something that was beyond his wildest dreams when he turned pro.

Why Rory McIlroy is so pleased with tying Seve Ballesteros

Speaking on the Sky Sports documentary ‘Expectation’, McIlroy got onto his six Order of Merit wins and admitted that he finds it pretty amazing to be even mentioned alongside Ballesteros.

“Seve is the Godfather of European golf. I think about his career and what he meant for European Golf and the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said.

“To equal a record like that and put my name alongside his is amazing. When I got my tour card in 2007, I didn’t have any of these goals or these aspirations.”

Adding to McIlroy’s comments on Seve, Wayne Riley then made a bold prediction about McIlroy’s future.

“I think Rory McIlroy can win 10 of these,” Riley quipped.

Rory McIlroy will want major number five over another Order of Merit

While McIlroy is the main man on the DP World Tour and is likely to be that for some time yet, you would bet he’d trade in another win for that fifth major.

The pressure seems to grown by the year on McIlroy when it comes to winning that fifth and especially getting it done around Augusta.

• READ MORE: What Scottie Scheffler said immediately after winning the Hero World Challenge

In 2025, with Scottie Scheffler so impressive, McIlroy is going to have to be at his very best to even get in contention to win.

It’s getting to the point where some feel it’s now or never. McIlroy, then, will be desperate to get the monkey off his back, despite his success in Europe.