Rory McIlroy breaks down in tears after winning DP World Tour and equalling legendary Seve Ballesteros’ golf record

RORY MCILROY was visibly moved aft matching Seve Ballesteros' tally of Race to Dubai titles.

McIlroy, 35, held disconnected Rasmus Hojgaard's situation to triumph the DP World Tour Championship astatine Jumeirah Golf Estates.

This triumph sealed the Northern Irishman's 3rd Race to Dubai rubric successful a row, and sixth overall.

Following his singular achievement, it was pointed retired to McIlroy that his tally present matches that of the precocious Ballesteros, who passed distant successful 2011 aged 54.

Speaking to Sky Sports, McIlroy was intelligibly moved to beryllium mentioned alongside his leader Ballesteros.

"It's truly cool," helium began. "I deliberation everyone knows what Seve means to European Golf. To Ryder Cup players.

"(In the) European Ryder Cup locker country each we person are quotes of Seve. We had a changing country with Seve's garment from '95, the past Ryder Cup helium played."

Fighting done tears, McIlroy added: "He means truthful overmuch to European golf.

"And for maine to beryllium mentioned successful the aforesaid breath, I'm precise proud."

McIlroy archetypal won the Race to Dubai successful 2012, earlier adding further triumphs successful 2014 and 2015, anterior to his existent three-in-a-row haul.

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Ballesteros won successful 1976, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1988 and 1991.

McIlroy is present conscionable 2 down Colin Montgomerie's wide grounds of 8 contention to Dubai titles.

He finished his 2024 play connected a precocious note, having endured immoderate hard moments on the way.

In June helium finished arsenic runner-up astatine the US Open, aft 3 bogeys connected the past 4 holes near his rubric hopes successful tatters.

Off the people helium filed for divorcement from woman Erica Stoll successful May, lone for the brace to rekindle their romance aboriginal successful the year.

On his achievement, McIlroy added: "It means a lot. I've been done a batch this year. Professionally, personally, and it feels similar the fitting extremity to 2024.

"I've persevered this twelvemonth a lot, had adjacent calls, wasn't capable to get it done, truthful to beryllium capable to get implicit the enactment today…

"I got disconnected to a large commencement and past didn't person my champion round; redeeming par connected 15 was huge, and past I had 4 large swings coming in.

"Really pleased with the mode I finished and thankfully I hung connected on a pugnacious day."