Rory McIlroy says he feels a duty to back the DP World Tour as men’s professional golf remains divided, and believes removing himself from the sport’s internal politics has made him happier both on and off the course.
Arriving at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship with a comfortable lead in the standings, the 36-year-old is closing in on a seventh Race to Dubai title and a fourth in as many years. McIlroy, who collected three FedExCup wins between his third Race to Dubai crown in 2015 and his fourth in 2022, has also enjoyed sustained success on the DP World Tour as he chases Colin Montgomerie’s record eight Order of Merits.
There is a deep tradition to the DP World Tour, McIlroy said, and with the fractured state of the men’s game this year it is important that the tour’s biggest names turn up for the marquee events. He accepts he is one of those players and feels a responsibility to help strengthen the circuit in any way he can.
He added that he genuinely likes the tour, the competitors and the staff, pointing to shared Ryder Cup memories and other occasions that make the circuit feel like home.
This season has been one of the most memorable of McIlroy’s career. His Masters victory in April ended an 11-year wait for a fifth major and completed his career Grand Slam, an achievement that the DP World Tour has since honoured by naming an award after him. He also won the Amgen Irish Open, contributed to Europe’s Ryder Cup victory and claimed two PGA Tour titles during a highly successful campaign.
On his mindset, McIlroy says the hunger to win remains but it is now more focused. He no longer feels the need to chase every milestone; instead he intends to concentrate his energy on specific goals. He describes himself as still driven but more selective about where he puts that drive.
Stepping back from behind-the-scenes disputation has given him clarity, he added. Free from the political debates, he can concentrate on playing the events he chooses, which in turn makes him more competitively satisfied. That freedom also allows more time for family life — travelling with his daughter and seeing different parts of the world is now a priority.
McIlroy begins the finale with a 767-point advantage over Marco Penge and a 1,720-point lead over Tyrrell Hatton in the Race to Dubai; those two are the only players who can still overtake him for European number one. Moving from six to seven Order of Merits, edging past Seve Ballesteros and getting closer to Montgomerie’s total, would be significant milestones he still wants to achieve.
He believes season-long honours tend to follow when you win big tournaments, so concentrating on the biggest events often produces those awards as a by-product. The DP World Tour Championship coverage starts Thursday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf, with live streaming options available.