McIlroy warns rivals he has “a little bit left in the tank” as he targets another decade of dominance

Rory McIlroy believes he must be more “clinical” next year as he bids to end his near 10-year Major drought and match Seve Ballesteros with his sixth Race to Dubai victory.

The Holywood star could not celebrate his fifth European money list title with another win in the DP World Tour Championship, which went to Danish Ryder Cup teammate Nicolai Hojgaard after he shot a sensational 64 to beat Tommy Fleetwood (68), Viktor Hovland (68) and Matt Wallace by two strokes on 21-under-par.

But with six-time Order of Merit winner Ballesteros now in his sights and Colin Montgomerie’s haul of eight a long-term goal, McIlroy (34) believes he can be a force for the next ten years.

“It's great,” he said after closing with a 70 to tie for 22nd on 10-under. “I think it shows my consistency year-to-year. 

“Over the last ten years, I think I've won eight season-long titles between America and between here, so it just shows my level of consistency. 

“I said to Harry on the last green, there's a few guys that are able to beat me sort of one week or the next week, but I don't think there's a lot of people that can beat me throughout the entire season.

“It's just about trying to be a little more clinical when I get to those weeks where I have chances to win.”

McIlroy won two Rolex series titles and clinched three top-seven finishes in the Majors and he’s looking for more of the same in 2024.

“Overall, it's been another really solid year,” he said. “Stroke average has been great and I've played really good golf, really consistent. Hopefully, more of the same going into next year and beyond.

“Yeah, still got a little bit left in the tank. I think I've still got a good eight to ten years left in me where I can play at the top, top level.

“I'd like to think that I'm going to challenge, at least try to get past Seve and then sort of try to get past Monty as well. 

“But it's certainly a goal of mine for the rest of my career to do something like that. It would mean a lot to me.

“When I won my first (Roles Series title) in Dubai at the start of the year, Harry said to me, ‘It took you long enough,’ because every time we would go out and play with someone, the caddies would have a gold bib and he wouldn't. He was like, ‘When am I going to get a gold bib?’

“So it was nice to finally win one of those in Dubai and follow it up in Scotland, which is probably one of the best finishes I've ever had in a golf tournament. 

“That was an unbelievable finish those last two holes. It was great to do that, and obviously those tournaments combined with my good play in the majors and the World Match Play, WGC, it sort of got me to a point where it made these last few weeks a little more comfortable.”

Shane Lowry finished as the best of the Irish with another ‘nearly’ week that summed up a season he will remember for his role in Europe’s Ryder Cup win.

A closing 67 left the Clara man tied 18th on 11-under and 46th in the final Race to Dubai behind Galgorm’s 44th-ranked Tom McKibbin, who finished tied 32nd on seven-under.

The Newtownabbey star (20) won his maiden title at the Porsche European Open and now heads Down Under to start his bid for one of 10 PGA Tour cards at the Australian PGA and Open championships.

“It’s been great,” a delighted McKibbin said. “Obviously to get here was pretty cool. I guess I can just take from the season that I'm good enough to be out here. I've had a lot of good results. 

“Of course, the win helped. But yeah, I think I'm really looking forward to next year, starting off fresh next week and seeing where it can take us. 

“I’ll go to Australia and then look at it after that. Sort of maybe take a couple of weeks off and get back at it next year.”

As for the tournament, Højgaard birdied the second, fifth and sixth before racing home in 31 to set a target the chasing pack just couldn’t match.

After following a birdie at the 10th with a bogey at the 12th, he was three shots behind. But he birdied the next five holes in a row and had two putts from just off the green at the 18th to seal the deal.

While he three-putted for par to give the chasing pack hope as he felt he might have to go into a playoff, his rivals also made late mistakes.

Fleetwood dropped a shot with a three-putt at the 17th and failed to hole his third at the last to force extra holes after Hovland, who was also chasing an eagle to tie, rinsed his approach and could only manage par.

Overnight leader Wallace also needed three at the 18th to tie but found trouble too and did well to make par and tie for second with Fleetwood and Hovland after a 69.

“It means a lot,” said Hojgaard, whose twin brother Rasmus was pipped by France’s Mathieu Pavon for the last of ten PGA Tour cards.

“This week, in this field, it’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it’s just happened. I was just focused on the job and on the golf course and standing on the 18th with a putt to and it slips by was a tough moment for me actually.

“Did it just slip away now and do we have to go to a playoff? But we took it easy and regrouped. 

But this feels amazing. I’ve got family here and this one is for family.

“Everything they put in over the years, there's so much hard work going into this. For it to happen like this is unbelievable.”