Rory McIlroy: Andy Sullivan would be ‘asset’ for Ryder Cup

That means McIlroy stays ahead of Danny Willett in the season-long standings.

“I don’t think there’s been one that’s come at a better time”, said McIlroy, who won his third Race to Dubai honour in the past four years.

“I know one of his goals next year is to make the Ryder Cup team and he’d be a huge asset to Europe”, said McIlroy.

“Every time you go to Augusta, there’s a lot of hype”, said McIlroy.

After an extremely close last day of the DP World Tour Championship, Rory McIlroy has regained his European Tour Champion crown with a one shot victory. I’me really going to enjoy a few weeks off and get ready for next season.

Spectators massed to witness the arrival of McIlroy, as well as Ivor Robson call his last match after 41 years as the official European Tour starter.

Five pars followed before back-to-back bogeys ended any hope he had of catching McIlroy, Willett eventually finishing in a tie for fourth on 13-under par after a final round of 70. “To battle like I had to today is a testament to how good he is”.

“I’m happy that this was my last event of the year”.

McIlroy had an anxious moment late in the day when his tee shot on the par-3 17th found the water and threatened to nullify his advantage at that stage. McIlroy bogeyed the fourth and trailed Sullivan by three shots at one stage, despite birdies on Nos.

For McIlroy, the year was disrupted by a court case with his former management company Horizon and, later in the summer, by an ankle injury that forced him to miss out on his defence of the British Open title at St Andrews.

Sullivan started the final day one shot ahead of McIlroy and played well enough on the front nine to increase the gap to three shots at one stage, but failed to sustain his momentum as the world No3 fought back on the closing stretch. The difference between McIlroy and Watson is greater than the difference between Watson and 19th-ranked Matt Kuchar.

“It’s probably the longest putt I’ve ever made for a bogey; I don’t think there’s been one that’s come at a better time, so definitely the best bogey of my career”, the Northern Irishman told reporters.

It has been an incredible year for both South Yorkshire golfers, with Fitzpatrick coming in 12th in the Race to Dubai in this his first season on the Tour. I played much better but I got unlucky on many holes.

“Working hard, doing all the right things, living right and doing everything we can to keep climbing the world rankings and put ourselves in contention for this again next year”.

“Andy was playing phenomenal golf over the first three days and from what little I saw on TV, it didn’t look like he was missing many putts”. That’s just the quality he is and the world-class performer he is.