Rory McIlroy says missing out on US Open ‘stings’ ahead of DP World Tour finale

Rory McIlroy admits his failure to win the US Open still “stings” as he bids to match Seve Ballesteros by winning a sixth Race to Dubai title.

Thriston Lawrence is the only player who can prevent McIlroy topping the money list for the third year running by winning the DP World Tour Championship, and even that will not be enough if McIlroy finishes 11th or better in the 50-man field in Dubai.

Equalling the tally of Ballesteros and edging closer to Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight titles would be a fitting reward for a season which has seen McIlroy win three times and record nine other top 10s, but missing out on an overdue fifth major title in June remains a painful memory.

McIlroy looked set to win his first major since 2014 at Pinehurst, but bogeyed three of the last four holes to finish a shot behind Bryson DeChambeau.

“Incredibly consistent again,” McIlroy said when asked to assess his season. “I think I’ve been really proud of that over the last few years.

“But then at the same time, you know, thinking about the ones that got away, I could be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I am not.

“So that stings and that’s something that I have to come to terms with, but at the same time I’ve got plenty more opportunities in the future.

“But I really just tried to focus on the positives this year of consistently performing at the highest level, still having three wins with an opportunity to get a fourth here this week, to win another Race to Dubai title.

“Did I achieve every goal I set for myself this year? Probably not. But I still consider it a successful season.

“You’ve got two guys [Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele] at the top of the world rankings winning majors. Scottie winning a Masters and a Players