Rory McIlroy admitted arriving in Dubai without a fifth Major title "stings" but he is determined to claim a sixth Race to Dubai crown which would see him move alongside Seve Ballesteros.
It is a two-horse race at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex as the 35-year-old enjoys a healthy lead of 1,785.02 points over South Africa's Thriston Lawrence ahead of the final event of the 2024 campaign at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The Northern Irishman needs a top ten finish on the Earth Course at the DP World Tour Championship to ensure he lifts the Harry Vardon Trophy for a sixth time, a total which would match his father's idol Ballesteros, and McIlroy did not downplay what the achievement would mean to him.
"It's always nice for me to start and end the year here in Dubai," he said. "It's typically what I've done most of my career. I've had a lot of success in the region.
"You know, winning at the Emirates again this year and winning this tournament a couple of times, and hopefully The Race to Dubai for a sixth time on Sunday if I can just keep playing the way I played last week in Abu Dhabi.
"I can't believe it's 15 years since the first time we came here back in 2009. It's always good to be back and I guess my goal this week is not to have anyone with me on the 18th green; try to win both titles.
"I still have to go out and play pretty well depending on what Thriston does, that gives me a little bit extra motivation to keep a bit more focused this week."
On potentially matching Ballesteros' tally of six Race to Dubai titles, McIlroy added: "I guess I am a little too young to remember a lot of Seve's career and things that he did. Seve is almost like, not a mythical character to me, but was just a little bit before my time.
"But he was my dad's favourite player. The immense impact he had on European golf from a Ryder Cup and from what he did for The European Tour, he means a lot to the overall game of golf but specifically in this part of the world and on this Tour.
"I think just the style of golf that Seve played is what he was drawn to. So that swashbuckling, you know, almost Houdini-like act of hitting into trouble and getting out of trouble.
"I think a lot of people were drawn to Seve. He was an entertainer. He played the game with a certain flair and style, and a little bit like Arnold Palmer before him in the States.
"Seve is to European golf is what Arnold Palmer was to golf in America, and I think that's what a lot of people gravitated towards.
"So to draw level with him and to have a career that can sort of somewhat stack up against his is very cool."
McIlroy has recorded a staggering 11 top five finishes worldwide in the 2024 season, but a fifth Major title still remains elusive.
It has been 10 years since he lifted the last of his four at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, however, he came mighty close at the U.S. Open, where three bogeys down the stretch left the door open for Bryson DeChambeau to clinch his second Major crown.
The 17-time DP World Tour winner insisted he had come to terms with his performance at Pinehurst and it has given himself more motivation to prevail next season after the two men ahead of him in the Official World Golf Rankings - Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele respectively - combined to win the other three Major titles and the Olympic Men's Golf Competition in Paris.
"Incredibly consistent again," the World Number Three said. "I've been really proud of that over the last few years, but then at the same time, thinking about the ones that got a way.
"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. Still having three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week, to win another Race to Dubai title.
"Did I achieve every goal I set for myself this year? Probably not. But I still consider it a successful season.
"You've got two guys at the top of the World Rankings down there winning three Majors. 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."
