- McIlroy admitted going through ‘a lot this year, professionally and personally’
- His season ended with a triumph at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai
- The Northern Irishman celebrated his victory by kissing wife Erica Stoll
Rory McIlroy has vowed to put his golf clubs away and celebrate the holiday period with his wife Eric Stoll and daughter Poppy following a chaotic year.
McIlroy finished his season in stunning fashion on Sunday by winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, a result that saw him clinch a sixth order of merit – matching the great Seve Ballesteros’s haul
The Northern Irish star celebrated the victory with Stoll and their daughter Poppy, who raised six fingers to make his achievement.
He admitted after the tournament that he had been through ‘a lot this year, professionally and personally’.
McIlroy had stunned the world after it was revealed he had filed for divorce from Stoll, just days before the PGA Championship in May.
It was then announced in the week of the US Open that the pair had called off their divorce, with McIlroy stating their ‘best future was as a family together’.
Rory McIlroy promised wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy he will be more present over Christmas
An emotional McIlroy won the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai and a sixth order of merit
McIlroy and Stoll (right) shared a kiss after he clinched his sixth Race to Dubai title on Sunday
McIroy then endured an agonising collapse on the last five holes of the US Open to miss out on his first major since 2014, with Bryson DeChambeau claiming victory.
Speaking to the PGA Tour’s Diary Room after his triumph in Dubai, McIlroy said it was ‘incredible’ to have Stoll and Poppy with him to celebrate his victory.
‘To have Erica and Poppy here, it means a lot,’ McIroy said.
‘It’s the first one they’ve been at in a while and for Poppy to be old enough now to sort of understand what is going on. I had to ask her if I did win, would she come out onto the 18th green with me?
‘Their support means the world to me and to be able to show Poppy what happened and some of the reasons maybe why I’m not around all of the time because I’m working or practising.
‘Hopefully she realises or thinks it’s worthwhile that I’m not there every night for dinner or for bedtime or whatever it is.
‘It’s incredible that they were here with me this week and I’m excited to go and celebrate with them.’
McIlroy was then asked if he had a message to share with them, with the star then making a promise ahead of the holiday period.
McIlroy and Stoll’s daughter Poppy had signalled six to celebrate her father’s achievement
‘I’d say that I love them and I can’t wait for this little bit of off-season that we have now,’ McIlroy added.
‘Poppy is very excited for Santa to come, so I’m excited to spend a little bit more time with them and celebrate the holidays and put the clubs away for a while so I’m hopefully a little more there and a little more present. Hopefully they enjoy that.’
McIlroy finished the season with four tournament wins, but admitted it would be remembered by others for his near misses during the year.
Next year, McIlroy will set his sights on finally winning a fifth major, by which point the wait will have dragged on for 11 years.
