By finishing n°1 in the European ranking for the fourth time after 2012, 2014 and 2015, the Northern Irishman, world n°1, joins in the legend of modern golf the Swede Henrik Stenson, the only player until then to have won the same year the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour and the Race on the European Tour.
It was in 2013.
Rory McIlroy, results
Without having managed to win once this season on the DP World Tour, the Northern Irishman finished number one overall for the 4th time in his career. For the record, McIlroy’s last victory in a regular European Tour tournament dates back to 2016 at the Irish Open.
“It hasn’t happened to me for 7 years, underlines the Briton. I have won three FedEx Cups since the last time I won the Race (2016, 19 and 22). That’s what she was called at the time. But this 4th title has a particular taste because it is the result of consistency throughout the year.
I think my worst result on the European Tour was 12th in Abu Dhabi. It would have been great to win the last tournament of the year here but Jon (Rahm) was amazing and he deserves his victory” At the end of August he had won his 3rd FedEx Cup by beating Scottie Scheffler in the final tournament of the PGA Tour season.
He is the second player in history to finish at the top of both rankings in the same year after Henrik Stenson’s feat in 2013. “I am very proud of myself. We were talking about it with Harry (Diamond, his caddy) going up the last fairway.
It seems like a long time ago when in San Antonio (Texas Open), the week before the Masters, my game was at its worst (missed cut). I made some adjustments in my golf and in my equipment. From there, my year changed and took a fantastic momentum at the Masters (2nd).
And it hasn’t stopped since…” . “I think because of how the calendar has become articulated in recent years, it has become more and more difficult to evolve on the two Tours. You really have to concentrate most of the year in the US and from September to November on this side of the Atlantic.
What largely explains the fact that I won on the European Tour is my performances in the Majors and also my performances in the biggest events. This speaks to the consistency with which I have played over the past few months”
