Shane Lowry is backing Rory McIlroy to come out firing in 2025 after watching the Holywood star wrap up his sixth Race to Dubai and put a year of close calls behind him with victory in the DP World Tour Championship.

Rory McIlroy took a giant step towards claiming his sixth Race to Dubai before insisting he'd pay to play in the Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy admitted he'd pay to play in the Ryder Cup after he took a giant step towards his sixth Race to Dubai by firing a five under 67 to grab a share of the lead in the DP World Tour Championship.

Paul Waring held off a stellar chasing pack to clinch a career-changing victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy were left to wonder what might have been.

It wasn’t perfect but Rory McIlroy gave his new takeaway the thumbs up after he made six birdies in a five-under 67 to lurk just five shots behind leader Tommy Fleetwood in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Rory McIlroy stormed to the turn in seven under, only to hit a brick wall on the back nine and fade from contention in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

Rory McIlroy confessed it would be “amazing” to claim his second Amgen Irish Open title and ease the pain of a year of near misses after he overcame winds gusting to 50 kmph and shot a joint best of the day 69 to take a one-shot lead into the final round at Royal County Down.

Nothing soothes the pain of bitter defeat like the salve of victory but Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry know they will have to display the patience of Job if they are to win their second Amgen Irish Open titles this week.

Tom McKibbin admits playing Royal County Down for the first time was a “traumatising” experience. But as he makes his third Amgen Irish Open appearance in a stellar threesome with Rory McIlroy and defending champion Vincent Norrman, he’s looking forward to trying to achieve what “would probably be the biggest achievement of my career.”

Comparisons with Tiger Woods rarely stand much scrutiny, but Scottie Scheffler’s imperious march to FedExCup glory passes muster in every department.

Rory McIlroy says he’ll play less going forward after hitting “a wall” following his US Open reverse.

No, Shane Lowry said, grinning. He won’t be putting in a bid for The European Club if he wins the $25 million FedEx Cup bonus on his debut at the Tour Championship in Atlanta this week.

Rory McIlroy and Leona Maguire can change the narrative and turn rollercoaster seasons into memorable campaigns starting this week.

Seamus Power ran out of road in his bid to extend his FedEx Cup journey as his first top 10 of the season was not enough to clinch a spot in this week’s BMW Championship.