Rory McIlroy fights back tears after ending season of pain on a high with Tour Championship glory

Rory McIlroy choked back tears after and the Race To Dubai on Sunday, finishing a painful season on a high.

McIlroy was overcome with emotion as he with only eight-time winner Colin Montgomerie ahead of him. It is McIlroy's fourth win of the season, but his first since May – enduring a painful series of near misses since.

at the Earth Course almost certain to win the Race To Dubai, with only South Africa's Thriston Lawrence in with a chance of beating him to the season-long title. But he made it a double triumph, winning the Tour Championship by two shots over Rasmus Hojgaard.

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After a birdie at the last, McIlroy let out a pained groan as he spoke to Sky Sports, fighting back the tears as the ghosts of a brutal season were banished.

He suffered agony at the US Open in June, blowing a two-shot lead down the stretch to gift victory to Bryson DeChambeau. Painful near misses followed at the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship, but he finished his season on a perfect note.

"It means a lot. I've been through a lot this year. Professionally, personally, and it feels like the fitting end to 2024," he said. "I've persevered this year a lot, had close calls, wasn't able to get it done, so to be able to get over the line today...

"I got off to a great start and then didn't have my best round, saving par on 15 was huge and then I had four great swings coming in. Really pleased with the way I finished and thankfully I hung on on a tough day."

McIlroy started the day tied for the lead with Hojgaard at 12-under-par, but after a strong start to his final round, the Ulsterman stalled in a similar fashion to his near misses at Royal Country Down and Wentworth.

But he changed the narrative with a sensational wedge shot at the 16th to card a birdie and pull clear of the Dane and another birdie at the last stretched the margin of victory.

McIlroy had to stop himself crying again when he was reminded that he had gone level with Ballesteros.

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"It's really cool. I think everyone knows what Seve means to European and Ryder Cup players," McIlroy said. In the European locker room, all we have our quotes from Seve, we have a changing room with a Seve shirt from '95, the last Ryder Cup he played.

"He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I'm very proud.

"I'm up for [chasing Colin Montgomerie down]. I've just won my third in a row and I've really made it a priority with my schedule over the last few years to give myself a chance with the Race to Dubai and I don't see that being any different for the foreseeable future.

"I'm going to go for my seventh next year and try and chase Monty down."