After emotional victory, Rory McIlroy has his sights set on making more European history

Rory McIlroy captured his sixth Race to Dubai title, but he has eyes on winning more in the coming years.

Rory McIlroy continues to make history on the DP World Tour.

He won his sixth Order of Merit title on Sunday, which matches the late, great Seve Ballesteros. But the Northern Irishman desires to be the greatest European player of all time. And to do that, he believes that he must surpass Colin Montgomerie, who won eight Order of Merits during his illustrious career.

“I’ve come this far. I might as well try and get to eight or nine,” McIlroy said after winning the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday.

“Getting to six and [winning] three in a row, prioritizing The Race to Dubai and DP World Tour, and trying to achieve something that no one else in the game has achieved if I am to surpass Monty. But I’ve got a good ten years left, I think. Look, again, the other thing is, who knows what the world of golf looks like in a few years’ time. But as long as The Race to Dubai is happening and there’s an Order of Merit, and we’re on this tour, I’m going to want it, yeah.”

Who knows what the future holds for professional golf, but no matter what happens, McIlroy will continue to play anywhere between five and nine DP World Tour events per year. Now 35, he began and ended this past season in the United Arab Emirates, playing nine DP World Tour events outside the majors. He teed it up in 27 events overall, an astonishing number for a player of his caliber, and won four, two of which were in Dubai. Hence, McIlroy has decided to severely cut back his PGA Tour schedule in 2025. But he remains as motivated as ever on the DP World tour.

“It’s a motivation. But I think I need to find that motivation from within.” McIlroy added.

“I’ve never been one to look externally for motivation. Sometimes, but for the most part, I think you need to find it within yourself that motivation to go on and achieve what you want to.”

McIlroy’s march to a fourth straight Race to Dubai title will begin in January, when he will tee it up in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic once more. But until then, he will take some much-needed time off, rest, and recuperate, all while locking down on Montgomerie’s record of holding eight Order of Merit titles.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.