Rory McIlroy Admits Lack Of Fifth Major ‘Stings’ As He Grades 2024 Season

World No.3 Rory McIlroy has given himself a “pass” grade for his 2024 season, reflecting positively on his remarkable consistency but acknowledging the disappointment of missing out on a fifth Major title. The Northern Irish golfer, renowned for his four previous Major championships, felt the sting of narrowly missing another, particularly after coming close at the U.S. Open, where late putting errors saw him finish second to Bryson DeChambeau.

McIlroy’s 2024 season has indeed been eventful, showcasing both highs and lows. His Major tournament results were mixed, with a T22 finish at The Masters, a T22 at the PGA Championship, and a missed cut at The Open Championship. His standout moment came at the U.S. Open, where he stayed within reach of victory until critical mistakes with his putter. Despite these challenges, McIlroy’s year has seen consistent top performances, including three victories and eight top-five finishes. No matter the outcome of the DP World Tour Championship this week, the 35-year-old will end the year with a strong record.

Yet, for an athlete of McIlroy’s stature, the true measure of success lies in Major victories. Reflecting on his season, McIlroy expressed pride in the high level of consistency he maintained, noting the numerous chances he had created for himself. However, he admitted that missing out on a fifth Major “stings” and remains a tough pill to swallow. “I could be sitting up here with a fifth major title, and I am not,” McIlroy shared. “So that stings, and that’s something that I have to come to terms with. But, at the same time, I’ve got plenty more opportunities in the future.”

McIlroy has taken a balanced view of his performance, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on the positive aspects. “I really just tried to focus on the positives this year of consistently performing at the highest level,” he said. With three wins and the chance for a fourth at the DP World Tour Championship, McIlroy has also highlighted the possibility of winning another Race to Dubai title as a satisfying way to close the year. While he didn’t achieve every goal he set for himself in 2024, McIlroy sees it as a successful season overall. When asked to grade his year, McIlroy responded, “It would be a pass. It wouldn’t be a pass with flying colors. Probably an eight.”

Despite his individual success, McIlroy acknowledges that the gap between him and the two American players above him in the world rankings—Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele—may have widened this year. Scheffler, in particular, stood out with an impressive eight-win campaign, while Schauffele captured two Majors. McIlroy admitted that the two have set themselves apart in 2024 but is undeterred, seeing this as motivation to reach new heights. “You’ve got two guys at the top of the World Rankings down there winning two majors,” McIlroy commented. “You know, Scottie winning a Masters and a Players and the Olympics. They certainly separated themselves from the pack this year. I’m obviously very aware of that, and it only makes me more motivated to try to emulate what they did this year.”

Looking forward, McIlroy is considering a refined schedule to optimize his performance. He revealed that he felt “burned out” toward the end of the PGA Tour playoffs and intends to trim a few events off his calendar in the coming season. This adjustment may prove crucial as McIlroy aims to close the gap between himself and the elite duo above him. With this renewed focus and an adjusted schedule, McIlroy appears ready to charge into 2025 with the determination to once again reach the pinnacle of the golfing world and contend for his fifth Major title.
In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph’s James Corrigan, Rory McIlroy outlined changes to his 2025 tournament schedule, highlighting a shift away from certain American events. Speaking before the DP World Tour Championship, the five-time Race to Dubai champion discussed his plans for the upcoming season, revealing his intention to focus more on European events while trimming his U.S. schedule.

Reflecting on his possible itinerary for 2025, McIlroy shared, “I think it will look very similar going forward. Start in the Middle East in Dubai, and then I don’t really play over here again until The Scottish Open. So you know, play that. That’s a tournament that I’ve enjoyed playing the last few years, especially leading up to The Open Championship.”

McIlroy’s European focus will include staple tournaments such as the Irish Open, Wentworth, and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as well as select playoffs. He emphasized that these traditional events, along with other key European stops, will form the core of his year. “Once the season in America is done, then come back over,” McIlroy explained. “The way the schedule is, Irish Open, Wentworth, Dunhill, these two events [playoffs]. Yeah, it’s going to look very similar.”

The World No.3 made it clear that if changes were to occur, they would primarily affect his participation in U.S. tournaments that he doesn’t typically play, reducing his calendar in the States to allow for more focused preparation. “If anything, the schedule will be reduced over in the States in terms of some of the tournaments I played this year that I typically don’t play. But those are the ones that I would shave off,” he said.

McIlroy is set to begin his campaign for a sixth Race to Dubai title alongside South African Thriston Lawrence, his direct competitor, as the two tee off in the first round of the DP World Tour Championship. McIlroy is aiming to secure another season-long title, while Lawrence seeks his first win of the season and a maiden Race to Dubai crown.