Rory McIlroy was tearful after he was beaten in a play-off by Matt Fitzpatrick at the DP World Tour Championship
Rory McIlroy experienced an emotional moment at the DP World Tour Championship, disclosing a touching exchange with Seve Ballesteros’ widow that brought tears to his eyes.
Although he missed out on the trophy to Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff, the Northern Irishman secured his seventh career Race to Dubai title on Sunday.
The 36-year-old’s fourth successive triumph in this accolade saw him eclipse golf icon Ballesteros’ record of six titles in Jumeirah. The late Ballesteros, who died in 2011, was a towering figure in European golf and surpassing his record proved a poignant moment for McIlroy, who battled to contain his emotions whilst discussing his latest professional achievement.
Chatting to Sky Sports presenter Tim Barter on the green, the five-time major winner disclosed he had conversed with Ballesteros’ spouse, Carmen, prior to taking to the course, reports the Mirror.
“It’s amazing,” said an emotional McIlroy, pausing to take a deep breath.
“I had a conversation with his wife, Carmen, before I went out to play today and she told me how proud he would have been. Yeah, it’s – aaah.”
A clearly moved McIlroy added: “I said this on this green last year to you.
“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.”
During his press conference, McIlroy elaborated on the enduring legacy of Ballesteros and why the Spanish golfer held such significance in his family while he was growing up.
He told reporters: “I think Seve’s spirit lives on in the European Tour and in the European Ryder Cup Team, and he was always my dad’s favorite player. The teary-eyed golfer added: Yeah, he’s a beacon of what European golf stands for, and I … I just think about growing up and playing golf and my dad being such a big part of it, and then, his sort of connection with Seve – or Seve was the one that really inspired him to play golf.
“And then, I don’t know, it’s just a parallel to that. When I hear Seve, it just sort of brings me back through my whole journey in the game, and yeah, it’s quite emotional.”
“It’s really cool,” he said, his voice shaking. “I think everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and Ryder Cup players. In the European and Ryder Cup locker rooms all we have is quotes of Seve.
“A changing room with a shirt of his from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played. He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath as him, I’m very proud.”
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