Rory McIlroy wins Race to Dubai

And the self-styled Sulli Army of fans who cheered him on can now look forward to a couple of USA excursions next year – Sullivan has qualified for the Masters at Georgia in April by finishing the year in the world’s top 50 and he climbed to third place on the money-winning list that will decide who represents Europe in the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, Minnesota in September.

Danny Willett, who came into the European Tour season finale ranked second in the Race to Dubai, finished tie for fourth with five other players at 13 under par.

“I think being able to go into the memory bank and draw on those things really helps and I was a little bit lucky I was able to do that again”. I think George O’Grady did a fabulous job over the past few years, but Keith Pelley has come in, he’s got some new ideas and is going to move things forward in a the direction how he sees it.

A par at the last was enough for Rory to take home both the DP Dubai World Championship and the Race to Dubai.

“Next year its going to be about doing it on a more consistent basis and try to get in the last group with Rory more often”.

“You definitely can’t be complacent”, he said.

The next and obvious question was whether he had been spending any money as a result. I think I can hold my own now, it’s safe to say. For golf fans like us though, it’s enough to make you salivate.

The victory in Dubai was McIlroy’s fourth of the campaign, following wins previously at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, WGC-Cadillac Matchplay and Wells Fargo Championship.

The Northern Irish former world number one shot a six-under-par final round of 66 to finish on 21 under, one clear of England’s Andy Sullivan.

“It’s probably the longest putt I’ve ever made for a bogey”.

“I felt like I dealt with everything really well this year. From two behind I knew it was going to be tough”, Sullivan said. It was 40 yards off line – just a horrendous golf shot. It was just a horrendous golf shot. “It doesn’t get better than that – well, maybe one shot better”, Sullivan said.

Rory McIlroy “I’m happy that this was my last event of the year and I’ve done really well and I’ve ended the season on a high”.

McIlroy finishes as the European number one despite missing three tournaments during the summer following an ankle ligament injury sustained playing football.

After trailing Sullivan for most part of the day, McIlroy built a two-shot lead over the world No53, who was looking for his fourth win of the season on the European Tour, with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes.

McIlroy trailed rising young star Sullivan around the turn, but a run of four birdies in five holes from the 11th secured him victory, salvaging a bogey on the 17th with a 30-foot putt after finding the water with his tee shot.