Rory McIlroy Left Emotional After Surpassing Seve Ballesteros’ Record Following 7th Race to Dubai Title

Rory McIlroy claimed his 7th season-long Race to Dubai title despite a loss in the DP World Tour Championship and surpassed late-great Seve Ballesteros for the 2nd most wins.

Rory McIlroy Left Emotional After Surpassing Seve Ballesteros’ Record Following 7th Race to Dubai Title

Rory McIlroy and Seve Ballesteros (Image via X/@GolfDigest/Sky Sports)

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Rory McIlroy is Europe’s top golfer once again. On Sunday, the World No.2 clinched his 7th Race to Dubai title despite a sudden-death playoff loss in the DP World Tour Championship. Following the round, the golfer was left emotional as he surpassed Seve Ballesteros‘ record.

Last year, McIlroy equaled Ballesteros’ record of 6 Race to Dubai (earlier called Order of Merit) title. This season-long competition is held to crown the No.1 golfer on the European Tour. Following his triumph at the 2024 DP World Tour Championship, the Northern Irishman would choke up while remembering the late-great Ballesteros.

In the final round on Sunday at Jumeriah Golf Estates’ Earth Course in Dubai, McIlroy forced a playoff round following an eagle at the 72nd hole. His score of 67 saw him force a playoff against Matt Fitzpatrick.

Earlier in September, McIlroy had eagled the final hole at the Irish Open to a huge roar. He then went on to defeat Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren to win his National Open. It seemed, something similar like that would happen again.

However, that did not happen. Fitzpatrick would keep his cool and beat McIlroy in the 1st sudden-death playoff hole to clinch his 3rd DP World Tour Championship.

Despite this loss, McIlroy was the big winner on Sunday. The 5-time major champion claimed his 7th Race to Dubai title and surpassed one of his heroes, Seve Ballesteros and moved to 2nd for the most number of wins.

Following the round, the golfer revealed that he had spoken with Carmen (Ballesteros’ former wife). While speaking about the late-great, McIlroy would get emotional once again.

He means so much to this Tour and the European Ryder Cup team. We rally so much around his spirit, his quotes and everything he meant for European golf. To equal him last year was cool but to surpass him this year, I did not get this far in my dream.

Rory McIlroy told Sky Sports

McIlroy now only trails Colin Montgomerie. The Scottish golfer holds the record with 8 wins in the season-long European race.

Rory McIlroy caps off historic 2025 season with 7th Race to Dubai triumph

The year 2025 will go down as one of the best seasons in Rory McIlroy‘s career. The golfer picked up his 7th Race to Dubai title on Sunday and added another honor to his impressive winning campaign this season.

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy (Image via X/@PGACHAMPIONSHIP)

McIlroy started the year with a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. In his first start of the year on the PGA Tour, the golfer emerged victorious.

The following month in March, the golfer clinched his 2nd The Players Championship. Following a rain delay, he took down J.J. Spaun in a playoff round on Monday and claimed his 2nd win.

His biggest win however, came in April. The golfer finally overcame his demons of the Augusta National and edged out Justin Rose in a playoff round to win the Masters Tournament. This win saw him complete the career grand slam and become just the 6th golfer to win all 4 major championships.

Following his triumph at the Masters, there was a bit slump in his form. He would shake off some disappointing rounds with a victory in the Irish Open. This victory came just a few days before the Ryder Cup.

In the mega showdown against Team USA at the Bethpage Black Course in New York, the golfer was subjected to severe abuse. Despite this, he kept his cool and claimed 3.5 points from his 5 matches. This proved vital for his team as they defeated the Americans with a 15-13 score and successfully defended the Ryder Cup.

He has now claimed his 7th Race to Dubai title and emerged as Europe’s top golfer once again. With 5,975 points, the 36-year-old finished 1st. He finished 1,967 points ahead of Marco Penge, who finished 2nd with 4,008 points.

Despite all of this achievements, McIlroy may not win the PGA Tour Player of the Year Award. World No.1 Scottie Scheffler won 6 times this year which included two major championships. The American might edge him out for this title once again.

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