The one glaring stain was yet another close call at a major championship, this time at Pinehurst No. 2 at the U.S. Open. McIlroy controlled the tournament on the back nine on Sunday but bogeyed three of his final four holes to allow Bryson DeChambeau to swoop in and win his second major title (2020 U.S. Open, Winged Foot).

Rory McIlroy gave himself a passing mark when asked to grade ... career PGA Tour titles in the process and join a short list of players with four majors and 25 PGA Tour wins all before his late 30s. "I think it's a nice time to reflect on the year when ...

McIlroy, who enters this week with 4,997.66 points, is the front-runner to banish heartache from his near miss at the US Open and complete the season with a sixth Order of Merit title at the Earth Course, which would bring him to within two of Colin Montgomerie ’s eight crowns.