What Rory McIlroy did at the DP World Tour Championship which Tiger Woods would often struggle with

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Rory McIlroy rounded off his DP World Tour season in style on Sunday as he won in Dubai to seal his sixth Order of Merit title in emphatic fashion.

It had been apparent for most of the first three days of the DP World Tour Championship that Rory McIlroy was on course to win the Race to Dubai once again. Thriston Lawrence was the only man who could stop him, and the South African never managed to put himself in contention.

But that did not deter McIlroy from putting the icing on the cake, winning the tournament by two shots over Rasmus Hojgaard. It proved to be the Northern Irishman’s fourth win of the year worldwide.

Summing up McIlroy’s year is not easy, by any means. Given the level he has reached, it is hard not to think that the agony of the US Open was the biggest moment of his year inside the ropes. And it seems that McIlroy himself felt that changes have been needed.

Why Rory McIlroy’s DP World Tour Championship win was ‘so impressive’

Ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, McIlroy spoke of making swing changes. He had locked himself away for three weeks and worked on a simulator. There were promising signs at Yas Links earlier this month, but the big rewards came in Dubai.

And speaking on CBS’s The First Cut Podcast following his win, Greg DuCharme suggested that McIlroy’s turnaround is a remarkable one; one that only a few players could pull off.

“The ability for him in just two starts to come out and win against the DP World Tour’s best, some of the best players in the world, is so impressive to me. You think of Tiger Woods, every time he went through a swing change, it seemed like it took him a year and a half to really get it,” he said.

“And for Rory, it’s a much more lowkey swing change, probably because there’s not a coaching change along with it, and all of a sudden he wins in two starts. It’s a sign of not just talent, but resiliency and trust and all the things a golfer needs. So things are looking good, we’re looking good for another good 2025. Hopefully, with less heartbreak this year.”

How Tiger Woods baffled many by dismantling and rebuilding his swing

Tiger Woods deciding to change his swing is one of the most perplexing decisions the 15-time major champion made during his illustrious career. Perhaps the most baffling call came around 2003 and 2004 when he moved from working with Butch Harmon to Hank Haney.

Of course, Woods would still enjoy huge success. Seven of his major wins came after 2004. However, it was described as ‘mysterious‘ by Brandel Chamblee that he would look to rebuild a winning formula so often in his career.

Obviously, McIlroy is not going through quite the same process right now. But just telling himself that he is changing his swing and then winning in his second start after is likely to provide him with a huge psychological boost heading into 2025.