“I could be sitting up here with a fifth Major title and I am not”: Rory McIlroy gets brutally honest

Rory McIlroy recently said that his season was consistent, which he was proud of. However, he added that not winning the US Open hurt, but he knew he had to come to terms with it and would get more chances in the future.

McIlroy is in Dubai this week for the DP World Tour Championship. He has had a great season so far, winning twice on the PGA Tour and once on the DP World Tour. However, he fell a stroke short at the US Open after missing three close putts in the final holes.

On Wednesday, November 13, during the pre-event press conference for the DP World Tour Championship, Rory McIlroy reflected on his 2024 season. He said he was proud of maintaining that consistency over the last few years, but the year wasn't without some regret.

"At the same time, you know, thinking about the ones that got a way," he said. "I could be sitting up here with a fifth Major title and I am not. So that stings and that's something that I have to come to terms with but at the same time I've got plenty more opportunities in the future."

"But I really just tried to focus on the positives this year of consistently performing at the highest level. You know, still having three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week, to win another Race to Dubai title," he added.

The Northern Irishman further stated that while he didn't achieve every goal he set for himself this season, he would still call 2024 a successful year.

"You've got two guys at the top of the World Rankings down there winning two Majors," he continued. "Scottie winning a Masters and a Players and the Olympics. They certainly separated themselves from the pack this year. I'm obviously very aware of that, and it only makes me more motivated to try to emulate what they did this year," he added.

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When did Rory McIlroy last win a Major championship?

Rory McIlroy has won four Major championships in his career, but it has been over a decade since he last won one. He claimed his last Major title at the 2014 PGA Championship, beating Phil Mickelson by one stroke. However, this proved to be his last Major win, and since then he's been vying for his fifth.

It's not as if McIlroy has never come close to winning another major. Since the 2014 PGA Championship, he has achieved 21 top-10 finishes, including four runner-up finishes in Majors, but the elusive fifth win is still awaited.

It will be interesting to see if Rory McIlroy succeeds in ending his Major championship drought in 2025 or if he will have to wait a little longer.