Rory McIlroy’s 2022 highlights: What subsequent after historic 12 months on PGA Tour and DP World Tour?

Rory McIlroy has gained the Canadian Open, Tour Championship and CJ Cup in a formidable 2022; The world No 1 topped the FedExCup standings and DP World Tour rankings in the identical 12 months for the primary time in his profession

When Rory McIlroy missed the lower on the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open in April, even essentially the most optimistic of his followers would have struggled to have predicted the unbelievable 2022 that was to comply with.

An underwhelming begin to the 12 months had seen McIlroy comply with top-13 finishes in his first 4 worldwide begins with a irritating week at a weather-affected Players Championship and an early exit in San Antonio, just for his fortunes to alter dramatically within the months forward.

McIlroy has posted top-eight finishes in 13 of his 16 begins since, together with three PGA Tour victories, with constant play on each side seeing him comply with FedExCup victory with additional success on the DP World Tour.

Rory McIlroy ended the 12 months as European No 1 for the fourth time in his profession

The Northern Irishman made the DP World Tour Championship his first begin since a speedy return to world No 1, with McIlroy’s fourth-place end seeing him change into simply the second participant ever to high the FedExCup standings and win the DP World Tour’s Harry Vardon Trophy in the identical 12 months.

“Very proud of myself,” McIlroy mentioned after the DP World Tour Championship. “Harry [Diamond, caddie] and I were talking going up the last fairway. It seems like it’s a long time since San Antonio, the Texas Open the week before Augusta this year when I was sort of struggling a little bit.

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Highlights from day four of the DP World Tour Championship, where a host of star names were in the running to end the season as European No 1

“Made a few tweaks with my recreation and with my gear. Went to a unique golf ball. It appeared like simply after that, my complete 12 months circled and received a ton the momentum at The Masters and simply went from there.”

McIlroy’s memorable 2022

A runner-up finish at The Masters in April kick-started his year, while McIlroy’s victory in Canada in June saw him overtake Greg Norman in the PGA Tour’s all-time victory standings the same week the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series fronted by the Australian launched.

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Watch the best bits of Rory McIlroy’s final round from June’s RBC Canadian Open

McIlroy felt he let an opportunity for a first major title since 2014 ‘slip away’ the following month when he failed to turn a share of the 54-hole lead at The Open into a fifth major victory, although used the disappointment as motivation for a dominant second half of the year.

The 33-year-old went into the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship seventh in the standings and six strokes behind Scheffler, a four-time winner in 2022, only to recover from playing his first two holes in four over to beat the American by a shot.

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The best of the action from the final round of the Tour Championship at the East Lake Golf Club

McIlroy travelled across to Europe to post three consecutive top-four finishes on the DP World Tour, before bringing his form back across to the CJ Cup last month to claim a third victory in a much-improved 2022.

“If somebody had advised me on the Friday night time of the Valero Texas Open after I missed the lower that I’d be world No 1 by October, I’d have requested them what they had been smoking as a result of I’d not have believed them!” McIlroy admitted after his CJ Cup title defence.

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Highlights from day four of the CJ Cup in South Carolina, where Rory McIlroy retained the title and moved back to world No 1

McIlroy then finished fourth at the DP World Tour Championship a month later – four strokes behind Jon Rahm – to end the season as European No 1 for the fourth time, having previously topped the season-long standings in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

“I do not suppose I performed as constant in my complete profession as I’m doing proper now,” McIlroy said. “It has been a incredible 12 months each side of the pond. It’s an incredible achievement, an achievement I have never been in a position to accomplish earlier than.”

What’s next for McIlroy?

McIlroy won’t feature competitively again until the New Year, other than partnering Tiger Woods in a made-for-TV exhibition against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth on December 10, with McIlroy already setting his focus towards ending his major drought in 2023.

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After becoming world No 1 again with victory at the CJ Cup, Sky Sports Golf pundit Rob Lee is confident Rory McIlroy can now go on to win the Masters to complete a career Grand Slam

“I in all probability sound like a damaged report but it surely has been eight years since I gained a significant, however I really feel like I’ve performed every little thing else within the recreation since then,” McIlroy explained. “I’ve gained three FedExCups since profitable my final Race to Dubai.

“I’ve done a ton of stuff and all I can do is keep my head down, work hard and play the way I have been playing. But as I said, I’ve been really encouraged with how I’ve played this year in the majors, how I’ve started and that’s something to really build on for next year.

“I really feel like I’m wholesome. I’m 33 and I really feel like my physique is in as finest form because it’s ever been and hopefully it is simply shifting forward and carry on shifting on.”