When Rory McIlroy completed his impressive putt on the concluding hole of the DP World Tour Championship to necessitate a showdown against Matt Fitzpatrick on Sunday, the Northern Irishman had essentially secured the title. The world No. 2 achieved his fourth successive and seventh overall Race to Dubai season-long championship, overtaking his European golf inspiration, Seve Ballesteros, for the second-most victories of all time.
Closing the gap on Colin Montgomerie, who holds the record with eight, McIlroy had already navigated the defining season amidst a career brimming with achievements. There stood the 36-year-old major champion, moving backwards as his ball journeyed steadily into the center of the hole.
His right fist shot upwards as he exclaimed, “Come on!” A second fist pump followed, and a third reaction involved his entire physical being. In that instant, unequivocally, any observer from any region could discern: Rory McIlroy possesses genuine passion.
“I mentioned this several times this week. I could have arrived here these last two weeks of the year and unwound slightly and relaxed. But … I consider myself a proud individual, and I value my performances on the golf course, and I aim to present myself positively these two weeks, and I believe I’ve accomplished that,” McIlroy commented after concluding the season-ending event.
Passion is not routinely acknowledged because it is assumed of professional competitors. This is their profession, their expertise, something they consistently strive to refine. It is perceived that they are exceptionally fortunate to engage in activities they desire.
However, during the grind of an extended golf schedule that initiates in early January and concludes … shortly before the “season of giving,” the degree of passion inevitably differs.
Perhaps Tiger Woods was the outlier to this standard, but nobody is exempt — neither the newcomer attempting to retain his standing in the upcoming weeks, the seasoned golfer participating since the economic recession, nor the multitude of athletes in between.
Now, consider McIlroy has already realized practically everything the sport offers, and his capacity to maintain such passion deep into a season — this late into a career — is even more remarkable.
It is this understanding that highlights that there was no coincidence that Rory McIlroy triumphed in the locations Rory McIlroy triumphed in 2025 — Pebble Beach Golf Links, TPC Sawgrass, Augusta National Golf Club, and the K Club — respectively, one of the most storied sites in the sport (a “cathedral of golf,” as he described it then), the PGA Tour’s prominent event, the major championship he ardently sought (becoming the sixth grand slam victor in history), and the location of his inaugural Irish Open victory.
Naturally, there were additional tournaments he genuinely valued this season: this final stretch on the DP World Tour playoffs, The Open at Royal Portrush in his native land, other national opens, and the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
McIlroy illustrated in these displays that his greatest talent is not his incredible driving prowess, delicate pitch shots, or well-timed putting (which ascended to new heights in 2025).
It’s his level of passion.
For someone who has shown passion for so much in the realm of golf over the recent five years, McIlroy’s aptitude to focus on what he truly cares about is significant. It’s significant to him. It’s significant to spectators. It’s significant to the sport and its history. And it’s significant to those he competes against, because when Rory McIlroy participates in a golf tournament with his passion meter registering “full,” not only does Rory recognize his commitment, so will everyone present.
