Rory McIlroy's season finale was exactly what he needed after overcoming heartbreaks

"I've been through a lot this year professionally, personally. It feels like the fitting end to 2024." The words of on a turbulent 2024, and he could not have put it better

There are not many golfers held to a higher standard than McIlroy, with this only heightened with his ongoing pursuit to win an overdue fifth major championship. Four wins across the and a Race to Dubai title and a runner-up finish at the would be classed as a remarkable year for many, but for the Northern Irishman the bar seems to be higher.

And maybe for good reason. The 35-year-old has announced himself as arguably the greatest player of his generation in recent years, and there is no doubt nobody holds him to a higher standard than McIlroy himself.

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The dark cloud often hanging over the Race to Dubai champion's head is his wait for a fifth major title, with McIlroy set to enter an 11th year without victory on the big stage. He has had his fair share of near-misses

Standing on the 15th tee in the final round of the US Open, the 2011 champion held a two-shot lead, knowing he just needed to navigate his way round the final four holes smartly to secure win No. 5. What followed however proved a difficult watch, with McIlroy making three bogeys down the stretch to have victory snatched away from him by

There had been plenty of close calls for McIlroy but this one hurt. Having played in the penultimate group in front of DeChambeau, a dejected McIlroy was forced to watch on from the scorer's room, before making a swift exit with his caddie Harry Diamond after watching the LIV golfer's winning putt drop.

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A three-week break from competing then followed, but his heartache did not stop there. He was denied in similar fashion in his home event at before falling to a playoff loss at the a week later. Amid all of this, McIlroy's life was far from easy off the golf course too.

In May it was revealed that the 35-year-oldafter revealing a breakdown in their marriage. To the shock of many though with McIlroy confirming in a statement that the divorce was now off, with the pair rebuilding their family with their daughter, Poppy.

This will have made his double win on Sunday all the more special. Career-wise, McIlroy wrote himself into the history books alongside the great in winning a sixth Order of Merit on the DP World Tour. A comparison to the Spaniard is special for any golfer, not least McIlroy, who showed just how much it meant to him

It also ensured he was able to end his season on a positive note too. Not only was he Race to Dubai champion, but he was also able to finish with a victory, prevailing in the DP World Tour Championship for the third time in his career. Arguably the most special part though was being able to do it in front of his wife and child.

It had clearly been a tough year for the family, and the emotions were there to see when McIlroy got the chance to celebrate with both in the aftermath. Declaring his love for both Erica and Poppy in his post-tournament interview, it was evident that this win meant more, and could well have started a new dawn both persoanlly and on the golf course.

Every year the focus moves from McIlroy finishing well to hopes of him finally winning major No. 5. The first task will of course come with McIlroy hunting for the illusive green jacket at the Masters in April, and whilst it is a challenge that comes with added pressure year-on-year, it will be one the Northern Irishman once again relishes.