Rory McIlroy is aiming for a sixth Race to Dubai crown. And the Briton admitted that arriving at the emirate'sJumeirahGE without a fifth Grand Slam "stings" but he is determined to win a sixth crown on the former European Tour Order of Merit that would equal the legendary Seve Ballesteros, Best European Golfer in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1988 and 1991.
Rory McIlroy, statements
McIlroy, 35, enjoys a comfortable 1,785.02-point lead over South AfricanThristonLawrence ahead of the final event of the 2024 season, the DP World Tour Championship, at theJumeirahGolf Estates.
On the possibility ofequallingBallesteros' six titles in the Race to Dubai, McIlroy said: "I guess I'm too young to remember a lot of things about Seve's career and what he did. Seve was my father'sfavouriteplayer. The immense impact he had on European golf from the Ryder Cup and what he did for the European Tour, it means a lot to golf in general, but specifically in this part of the world and on this Tour. I think the golf that Seve played was what attracted him. That cloak-and-dagger game, almost like Houdini's, of hitting impossible shots and, in problematic situations, getting out of them successfully," he said.
"I think a lot of people were drawn to Seve. He was an artist. He played with a certain style, a bit like Arnold Palmer before him in America. Seve is to European golf what Arnold Palmer was to golf in America, and I think that's what attracted a lot of people. So to be on par with him and have a career that can be compared to his is great," added Rory.
He was born in Holywood, Northern Ireland, where he attended Sullivan Upper School. He belongs to theHolywoodGolf Club, where he began his first training sessions followed by Michael Bannon, a coach he has retained until today.
McIlroy was part of the winning team of the Junior Ryder Cup in 2004, while in 2005 he became the youngest winner of both Irish tournaments, the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.
Also in 2005, at the North of Ireland Championship, played at The RoyalPortrush, he broke the course record with a 61 at the age of 16, a record still unbeaten in 2019 at the occasion of The Open Championship, played at The RoyalPortrush.
In August 2006, he won the European Amateur Championship stage held at the Golf Club LeBetullein Biella, Piedmont, with a score of 274 strokes (65-69-72-68), 3 less than Englishman Lewton Stephen.
In October 2006, he represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy and the Amateur World Team Championship.
On February 6, 2007, he became the second man to lead the World Amateur Golf Rankings, although he lost the lead after just one week.
McIlroy shot an opening round of 68, 3 under par, at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, which put him in provisional third place, three shots off the leader. In the same opening round, he was also the only player in the field to finish without a single bogey. He shot 5 over par in the second round to take him to +2 overall, but still earned a third-round cut. He finished 2 over par in the third round and 1 over par in the fourth round to finish in 42nd place, the best amateur.
McIlroy was part of the Great Britain & Ireland team at the 2007 Walker Cup.
His first appearance on the European Tour came at the 2005 British Masters, a few days after turning sixteen. He made the cut for the first time on a European Tour at the age of seventeen, at the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic, where he also had to forfeit the 7,600 prize because of his amateur status.
