Ahead of reflecting on the historic milestone of surpassing Severiano Ballesteros, Rory Mcllory breaks down a turbulent afternoon that began with total control, veered through costly stumbles, and ended with a stunning eagle at 18,setting the stage for a playoff and a season-defining achievement.
Q. Before we talk about winning The Race to Dubai again, let’s talk about today and the events that unfolded, eagling the last, again. Tell us about today from your point of view?
Yeah, got off to the perfect start. 3-under through five, 4-under through seven. Felt like I had sort of taken control of the golf tournament. Was a couple ahead.
Then, yeah, I made two bogeys on the way in on 12 and 16 and didn’t birdie 14 and 15, the birdie holes. Obviously knew I needed something to happen on the last. I actually hit a great shot on 17, ended up a little short. Hit a great putt that lipped-out.
On the last, I knew what I had to do. I hit a great 5-wood. Lucky to see Rasmus’s putt before mine. His hung out a little bit before it started to turn, so got a read from him. It was a great way to finish, making the playoff.
But unfortunately hit it in the water there on 18 in the playoff. Just sort of put me behind the 8-ball. But happy for Matt. He’s had a great end of the season. Played great to get on the Ryder Cup Team, and then he sort of kept it going since, so really happy for him as well.
Last year you equaled Severiano Ballesteros’s Race to Dubai titles, and this year you surpassed him. Tell us how it feels to surpass his title.
I had a course with his wife, Carmen, before I went out to play today, and she told me how proud he would have been. You know, I said this on this green last year, he means so much to this tour and to the European Ryder Cup Team. We rally so much around his spirit and his quotes and everything he meant for European golf.
To equal him last year was cool but to surpass him this year, yeah, I didn’t get this far in my dreams, so it’s very cool.
Now just one behind Colin Montgomerie’s 8th record title. You don’t need it, but how much do you want it?
I want it, of course I do. I caught up with Monty this week when he was here a couple days ago and I saw him. Look, it seems within touching distance now. I’d love to be the winningest European in terms of Order of Merits and season-long races.
You know, I’ve probably got a few more good years left in me, and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.