The one glaring stain was yet another close call at a major championship, this time at Pinehurst No. 2 at the U.S. Open. McIlroy controlled the tournament on the back nine on Sunday but bogeyed three of his final four holes to allow Bryson DeChambeau to swoop in and win his second major title (2020 U.S. Open, Winged Foot).

Rory McIlroy won three times in 2024 and is on the brink of winning his third straight Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour, yet admits there's tournaments this year he's still coming to terms with.

Rory McIlroy doesn’t have to look far for motivation for next year. All he has to do is glance up at the two players ahead of him in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Rory McIlroy confessed that missing out on his fifth major win still “stings” and the “ones that got away” this year are motivating him to close the gap on Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele at the top of the world rankings.

RORY McILROY’S ongoing Major drought “stings” but he believes that winning a sixth Race to Dubai title will add to an already successful year. The world No 3 tees off in the season-ending DP World

I should be sitting up here with a fifth major title and Im not, so that stings, says Rory McIlroy as he reflects on his 2024 ahead of quest for sixth Race to Dubai title; watch the season-ending DP W

Rory McIlroy has admitted his failure to secure a major title in 2024 "stings", despite considering it a "successful season" overall. The Northern Irishman has claimed three tournament victories this year - two on the PGA Tour and one on the DP World Tour.