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World No.1 wins Race To Dubai in Singapore with two events remaining

King of the Continent: Rory McIlroy’s third place finish in Singapore gave him an insurmountable Race To Dubai lead

Rory McIlroy has emulated Ryder Cup teammate Luke Donald by winning the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season.

After collecting €289,296 for finishing in third place at the Barclays Singapore Open, won by Italian Matteo Manassero, McIlroy took his season’s earnings to €3,696,597 and, with his closest rival Peter Hanson not playing again until the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the Northern Irishman has established an insurmountable lead at the top of the Race to Dubai.

In so doing, McIlroy – who will defend his UBS Hong Kong Open title this week – has matched Donald, who last year became the first player to officially win the money lists on the European Tour and PGA Tour in the same season.

Aged 23 years and 191 days, McIlroy becomes the youngest player to be crowned European No.1 since Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, who was 21 when he won the Harry Vardon Trophy in 1979, and 22 when he repeated the feat the following year. McIlroy also becomes only the second player from Northern Irishman to top the European Tour money list, following Ronan Rafferty in 1989.

The reigning US PGA champion said: “It really is hugely satisfying to finally become the European No.1, especially after finishing second in two of the last three years. It has been one of my main goals to become No.1 in Europe ever since securing my card five years ago, so to end the year as the No.1 on both The European and US PGA Tours is absolutely amazing.

“Winning a second major championship already made it a fabulous season, but then to follow Luke in becoming No.1 in both Europe and the States is the icing on the cake after a fabulous season.

“I feel so proud and humbled to have joined so many fabulous names in Europe who have won the Order of Merit. And to be able to accomplish this goal with two events still remaining in the Race to Dubai means that I can defend my UBS Hong Kong Open title and play in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai without that added pressure, and just really enjoy my golf.

“I set myself a number of ambitious goals at the start of the year, and to have ticked so many of the boxes feels great. A lot of hard work went into this, and I am really proud of what I’ve achieved in 2012. I would like to give special thanks to the team around me for all the support they have given me throughout the year.

“I’ve still got two events remaining this year, and the goal is still to try and win at least once more before the end of the season.Beyond that, I’m looking forward to a good break over the winter! I’ve got a healthy lead in the World Rankings, but with so many very good players on both sides of the Atlantic there’s no time to be resting on my laurels, so my goal is to push on in the New Year.

“Monty won eight Orders of Merit in his prime, and I have only won one so far, so there is plenty of ground to make up. But to be able to go into 2013 as the No.1 on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour is hugely satisfying.”

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered

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