Rory McIlroy tees-up in this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship declaring he would like to end his playing career as “the most successful European of all time”.
This next fortnight will see the hosting of the the closing two events of the Race to Dubai season and with McIlroy a certanity to match the late Seve Ballesteros effort of winning six Harry Vardon trophies as European No. 1.
Only Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie has won more in capturing eight No. 1 crowns including seven in succession.
The current World No. 3 will need to finish last in this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and also tail of the field in next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship curtain closer if he’s to be denied also a sixth No. 1 crown in 11 years.
Rory McIlroy proudly boasting he would love to end his golfing career as the most successful European golfer of all time – Image DPWT
However McIlroy will tee-up this week in the Abu Dhabi capital for a 13th occasion in his career still looking for a maiden triumph.
The four-time major winner’s record includes: four second place finishes (2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015), four thirds (2010, 2016, 2018 and 2021), a fifth (2009) along with at 11th (200) and 12th place result (2022) and just the one missed-cut (2023).
McIlroy’s second place finish a decade ago is notable as he physically hit less shots that year than any other competitor but was slapped with a two-shot penalty following a bizarre incident during the third round when the now late caddy Dave Renwick reported McIlroy for having taken full relief in taking a ‘proper’ drop from a spectator fairway crossing line at the second hole.
“I’ve played really well in Abu Dhabi and obviously in Dubai,” he said when asked about his Abu Dhabi record.
“I’ve been able to get the job done in Dubai few more times than here. But I’ve had plenty of chances. But when we played at Abu Dhabi National, seemed like Martin Kaymer was sort of the man over there and I felt like I finished second or third to him quite a lot.
“Different golf course. I played here a couple of years ago and played okay. The conditions were a lot different in January than they are now.
“But yeah, it is, I’d love to get a win in Abu Dhabi. I’ve been so close so many times. It would be nice to finally get over the line”.
While McIlroy’s Abu Dhabi showing has been marked with so many near misses, his 2024 season also is a mirror of being near enough but just not reaching the pinnacle and this reflected over the course of 24 events he’s contested this year with two wins, four seconds and four other top-10s.
Though whether or not McIlroy wins or loses this week at Yas Links there’s no denying he’s been a great supporter of the DP World Tour golf ever since earning his full Tour at the end of 2007 and, as he pointed out ahead of this week, the bigger picture for him is not all about matching Seve’s record and/or going on to break Monty’s record.
No, McIlroy has bigger career fish to fry.
“Not necessarily that, even though that would be nice”, he said when asked about both Seve’s and Monty’s feats.
“I pride myself — I’m a European player. I would like to go down as the most successful European of all time. Obviously Race to Dubai wins would count to that but also major championships and hopefully I’ve got a few more Ryder Cups ahead of me as well.
“So that’s something that I would like to, I think is a goal that’s quite attainable over the next ten years.
“I’m very proud to be from Europe and have sort of, you know, played on this tour and played on this tour consistently.
“Yeah, it’s something that I’m very proud of and I just think of the greats of European golf that I grew up watching, whether it was Faldo or Woosie or Langer or just sort of the really heyday of The European Tour in the ’90s, I guess.
“And yeah, I remember when I got my — not even my European Tour card. I remember when I got my first money clip just when I signed up to be a member and that was a really proud moment for me. That’s something that I’ve always been proud of and something I want to continue to do”.
Well said, Rors
