‘I can’t wait to celebrate this properly in Ireland’ – Rory McIlroy thanks wife and daughter after he rounds off tough year with sweet Dubai success

In winning the DP World Tour Championship, the Co Down star (35) sealed his sixth Race to Dubai crown after a challenging year, professionally and personally. And he made sure his loved ones were front and centre of the ­celebrations.

"I had my family here this week," McIlroy said, as he was presented with his trophies. "Erica and Poppy, I love you. Thanks for sticking by me and for your support. I can't wait to go to Ireland and celebrate this properly."

McIlroy departed the 18th green to head straight to his wife and four-year-old daughter, before embracing them. Poppy and Erica held up six fingers to signify McIlroy's number of victories at the event.

The Ryder Cup star looked close to tears as he soaked up the win with his family. And it's no surprise after the year he has had.

McIlroy experienced 12 months of near misses on the course, including an agonising second-place finish in the US Open in June.

In May, he announced he had filed for divorce, but just one month later the couple patched up their differences and announced they were staying together.

The Northern Irishman has been married to Ms Stoll for seven years and the news of a potential divorce shocked his fans across the world.

At the time, a statement was released that said: "Rory McIlroy's communications team confirmed... that a divorce has been filed.

"They stressed Rory's desire to ­ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He will not be making any further comment."

After saying that he and Ms Stoll would be staying together, McIlroy said: "There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool's game.

"Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning."

Ms Stoll, a New Yorker, was a keen tennis player at school and she earned a degree in marketing. She met McIlroy at the 2012 Ryder Cup and they married in 2017. In 2020 they welcomed daughter Poppy Kennedy into the world.

Ms Stoll has supported her husband at tournaments, even caddying for him at the last year's Masters Par 3 contest.

The family looked a picture of happiness yesterday and it was clear McIlroy is reaping the rewards of hard work on and off the fairways.

McIlroy told Sky News: "Yeah, it means a lot. I've been through a lot this year professionally, personally. It feels like the fitting end to 2024. Yeah, look, I've persevered this year a lot.

"I had close calls, wasn't able to get it done. But I'm really pleased with the way I finished and thankfully I hung on on a tough day."

McIlroy's Race to Dubai victory has now elevated him to the levels of one of the most famous golfers of all time, Seve Ballesteros, who also won the event six times.