Rory McIlroy: The search is over, but it's still on.

Rory McIlroy, the golfer from Northern Ireland, is at a pivotal moment in his career, reflecting on his journey after an exceptional year. At the DP World Tour Championship, he is closing in on his seventh Race to Dubai title, an achievement that would bring him closer to Colin Montgomerie's record of eight European number one rankings. McIlroy said, "Getting closer to Monty would be incredible." However, this recognition wouldn't change his career trajectory, as the European Tour has never named an award in Montgomerie's honor, unlike McIlroy, who received the Sir Henry Cotton Award for being the best in the majors.

“I’ve spent the last 18 years chasing,” McIlroy remarked, referring to the various awards he has won, though he is ineligible for the latest one because his name is already on it. His legacy was cemented on a Sunday at Augusta National, where he won the Masters, the final trophy he had been seeking for over a decade. Although the chase is over, his desire to compete remains undiminished.

Beyond trophies, McIlroy has other goals in mind, such as a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, where he will compete at 39. He also mentioned his desire to win at Riviera and Muirfield Village, although he skipped the latter this year. He has reached world number one nine times and has won three FedEx Cup titles. “I don’t think my desire has gone away,” said McIlroy, who feels responsible for contributing to the strength of the European tour.

At this stage of his career, Europe offers him comfort. He lives near London but also has a home in Florida. The Ryder Cup has strengthened his ties to the tour. “I enjoy the places we play and the people on tour,” he said. For him, the majors are the priority, being the only European with a career Grand Slam. Harry Vardon, with seven majors, is the European with the most titles, but McIlroy sees this more as a number than a summit to climb.

A month after winning the Masters, McIlroy acknowledged that the achievement might be the pinnacle of his career, though he hasn't lost his desire to win. “I've achieved everything I thought I could achieve in the game,” he concluded in Abu Dhabi. “Now it's about enjoying it and continuing to add to my tally.”.