It seems like Rory McIlroy’s curse of being the next best man is bound to continue. The famous pro has recently lost yet another opportunity from right under his nose. This time, it’s Adrian Meronk who prevented the Northern Irishman from tasting a sweet victory.

The famous Polish golfer has recently won the 2023 Seve Ballesteros Award, taking one up on runner-up Rory McIlroy. His exciting achievement, however, does not come as a surprise to McIlroy as Tommy Fleetwood snatched a win from him last weekend at the Dubai Invitational.

The 30-year-old’s award perfectly encapsulated the year he has had. After securing a total of three wins on the European Tour and a career-high fourth finish on the Race to Dubai Rankings. This new feat comes as a cherry on top for Meronk as he became the first Polish golfer ever to win the trophy.

The honorary achievement is based on the votes garnered by DPWT members. This, therefore, makes it even sadder for McIlroy, as this time the 4X major champion lost not to fate but to the greater judgment of his companions.

Viktor Hovland and Nicolai Højgaard were tied for third place, while Meronk collected 38% of the votes. While reflecting upon his win over the Northern Irishman, Hovland, and Højgaard, Meronk said, “It feels amazing. Seeing my name next to all of these players, it’s unbelievable. I’m very grateful for this award. It means a lot to me that other players appreciated my season last year. It’s a great feeling.” 

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Surely, after a great year and an even greater accomplishment, anyone is bound to have “great feelings.” But was this decision a fair one for Rory McIlroy? Well, maybe, and here’s why.

What was 2023 like for Rory McIlroy at the DP World Tour?

The Irish golfer secured two wins in the 2023 season on the DP World Tour. This was one less than Adrian Meronk’s three wins, making Meronk an ideal choice if we take the number of wins as a criterion that the voters considered.

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However, if we take into consideration a comparison between the two golfers based on the Race to Dubai rankings for the year 2023, Rory McIlroy was ranked higher than his counterpart. While McIlroy ended the year topping the charts in first place, Meronk finished fourth.

But the decision depended on the other DP World Tour members (and potentially even the 34-year-old’s sad luck). So far, he has finished as the runner-up for the 2024 Dubai Invitational. As a defending champion, he is eyeing the Hero Dubai Desert Classic next week. Only time will tell if this will be a point where McIlroy breaks his ‘runner-up curse’ or not.