Rory McIlroy has won major golf tournaments, but his latest victory brought tears to his eyes for many reasons, including his personal life, with him and his wife, Erica, on the verge of divorce.
“It means a lot,” McIlroy said via Sky Sports, after winning the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai tournament for the third year in a row. Erica and their daughter Poppy were with him at the class.
“I’ve been through a lot this year – personally and professionally. This seems like the perfect ending to 2024. Look, I persevered a lot this year, I had some problems, I didn’t make it through , so to be able to cross the finish line – I had a good start, and then I didn’t have the best in the middle of the round.”
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Rory McIlroy poses with his wife, Erica Stoll and daughter, Poppy, alongside the DP World Tour Championship trophy and the Race to Dubai trophy at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 17, 2024, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
McIlroy celebrated the win with his family, which made him a little choked up when he started talking about it.
“Their support means the world to me,” he told reporters.
“Being able to show Poppy what happened today and maybe some of the reasons why I’m not here all the time because I’m working or training… it’s amazing that they are here with me this week, and I’m excited to go party with them.”
RORY MCILROY WAS A ‘DIFFICULT PERSON TO MARRY’, HIS WIFE REACHED ‘BREAKING POINT’ FOR DIVORCE: REPORT
McIlroy filed for divorce from Erica in May. However, McIlroy told the Guardian in June that their differences had been reconciled.
“Over the past few weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future is being a family together,” he said.
“Fortunately, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a fresh start.”
Rory McIlroy celebrates during the final round of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 17, 2024 in Dubai. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
On the golf course, however, McIlroy has faced more adversity than usual, including a slump at this year’s US Open, which was won by Bryson DeChambeau after some problems from McIlroy in the final round .
It got to the point where he had to step away from the game for a bit before getting back into things with the Scottish Open.
McIlroy found himself in serious contention at the US Open, Irish Open, BMW PGA Championship and Dubai Invitational, but narrowly missed out on victory in all of those tournaments.
So when he finally saw that final putt roll in Dubai, the emotions were clearly too much to contain.
“It’s been quite a year, but I’m very happy with where I am in my career and in my life,” Rory McIlroy said. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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“It’s been quite a year, but I’m very happy with where I am in my career and in my life, and I feel like everything has worked out the way it was supposed to,” said McIlroy said.
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