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The Masters champion said he wants to re-live his “unbelievable year” after finishing his season at the Crown Australian Open
Rory McIlroy is looking forward to some repeats on TV this Christmas after revealing he plans to watch the highlights from his “unbelievable year” during his end-of-season break.
The Ulsterman completed his career Grand Slam at the Masters before leading Europe to an away Ryder Cup victory and sealing a seventh Race to Dubai title. The world No.2 looked out of steam as he flirted with the cut before finishing tied 14th in his final event at the Crown Australian Open.
Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen claimed his maiden DP World Tour title a shot ahead of Cam Smith after the LIV Golf star three-putted the final green.
McIlroy is expected to next appear in public to accept the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award at Salford on December 18.
READ MORE: Everything to know from Rory McIlroy’s ‘roller coaster’ first day at Australian OpenREAD MORE: Rory McIlroy put on notice as Sir Nick Faldo delivers grim verdict on Masters winner
But the Ulsterman, 36, is ready for a month off before returning to the DP World Tour in Dubai next month – and re-living his big moments from 2025.
“I’m looking forward to a little break,” he said. “I’ve played a pretty heavy schedule post the summer with the Irish Open, Wentworth, Ryder Cup, and then I’ve sort of been globe-trotting a little bit here the last couple of months. I’m excited to have a little bit of downtime and finally reflect on everything, maybe watch a few of the tournaments back. I’ve not really let myself do that too much. So yeah, looking forward to the Christmas break and put the feet up, a few glasses of wine and think back about what an unbelievable year.”
It was a typically eventful event Down Under for McIlroy who started the week by claiming the world’s No.5-ranked courseRoyal Melbourne was not even the best track in the city – he prefers next year’s venue Kingston Heath – and playing his ball from under a banana peel in the third round.
The 2013 Australian Open winner finished eight shots behind the winner but his presence boosted the attendance to 112,698 during the week – and 104,900 for the four game days. . “I wish I could have been in contention and been coming down the stretch and battling with the boys, but it’s been an amazing week and can’t thank everyone in Australia up for the hospitality and the reception and can’t wait to come back next year,” said McIlroy.
The five-time Major champion has played in Ireland, England, India, Abu Dhabi and Dubai before finishing his season Down Under since the end of the PGA Tour season.
McIlroy revealed at Wentworth that he is following the advice of Roger Federer by playing different events – and seeing new places – before the end of his career.
And he said a new-look PGA Tour season concentrating 20 events from February to September will help his globetrotting – and the fields in other events.
I think I understand what they’re doing. They’re trying to get their domestic model right before focusing internationally, and they obviously don’t want to go up against football. NFL is king in the States, and it makes sense from an American point of view, but then I think it does let international and global golf shine for five months of the year.”
The Australian Open was up against the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge and the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.
“If you compare this tournament to the other two tournaments going on in the world of golf this week, there’s no comparison,” added McIlroy. “Yes, the field in The Bahamas is stronger than the one here, but in terms of atmosphere, of golf course, basically everything else you’re looking for in a tournament, I can’t think of many better than this.”
Si Woo Kim, Michael Hollick and Adam Scott all qualified for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
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