Rory McIlroy says whether he’s had a better season than Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler after DP World Tour Championship win

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Rory McIlroy ended an up-and-down season with a victory as the Northern Irishman edged out Rasmus Højgaard at the DP World Tour Championship.

McIlroy tied Seve Ballesteros’ order of merit tally after the four-time major winner sealed a two-shot victory at the Earth Course.

McIlroy’s swing changes appear to be working well, with his fourth victory of the season coming just seven days after he finished third in Abu Dhabi.

The Northern Irishman has now assessed his season as a whole and admitted that only two players bested him in 2024.

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Speaking to the media after his victory, McIlroy initially discussed what the Race to Dubai means to him in the context of the season.

“I think what I’ve learned is it doesn’t — it doesn’t have to be important for everyone else,” McIlroy explained.

“You know, so, like, I think what I did today is very meaningful for me personally. I would think from an outside perspective, it mightn’t be that meaningful if people are just looking from the outside in in terms of other things that I’ve achieved in the game and things that I didn’t achieve this year.

“But just because it maybe isn’t as important to them doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be as important to me. I think that’s — you know, I’ve made a commitment I think over the last three years to prioritise trying to win The Race to Dubai and trying to play as much as I can on the DP World Tour.”

The Northern Irishman also claimed only Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele had bested him in 2024.

“Look, yeah, I know the way — I know how people are going to view my year, and I view my year similarly, but at the same time, I still have to remember I won four times, and I won a second Race to Dubai,” McIlroy added.

“I accumulated a lot of big finishes and big performances, and the two guys that had better years than me have had career years. Xander won two majors, and Scottie has won a Players, a Masters and an Olympic Gold Medal. They are the only two guys this year that I think have had better years than me.”

Rory McIlroy’s 2024 victories

McIlroy’s US Open heartache at Pinehurst is probably what his year will be remembered for. However, there were several positive moments for the 35-year-old.

The four-time major winner won four times in all, with his first victory coming at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. McIlroy finished on 14 under and produced a brilliant 63 during the third round.

McIlroy’s first victory of 2024 came just a week after he placed second at the Dubai Invitational. On the PGA Tour, McIlroy won the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry and the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

Interestingly, the PGA Championship returns to Charlotte in 2025, a tournament where the Northern Irishman will fancy his chances of ending his long wait for major number five.