RORY MCILROY SIGNED off on a superb 2022 by finishing on top of the DP World Tour standings for the season.
McIlroy’s success marks the first time that a player has won the FedEx Cup title as PGA Tour number one, the Harry Vardon Trophy as European number one, and finished the season ranked as golf’s world number one.
Jon Rahm won the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on 20-under par, two shots clear of Tyrrell Hatton and Alex Noren on 18-under.
McIlroy finished outright fourth on 16-under par after a final round of 68, comfortably enough to see him top the season-long European rankings for the fourth time.
His week’s work saw him collect more than €450,000 for his fourth-place finish, as well as the €1.94 million ($2m) bonus for winning the rankings race.
European Number One, confirmed ✅ #DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Crvamsekbl
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 20, 2022
“It means a lot,” McIlroy told Sky Sports afterwards.
“It has been seven years since I’ve last done it. My fourth one, but it’s been a while; I’ve won three FedEx Cups since the last time I won.
“I was a model of consistency the whole way through the year, a lot of top finishes. I think my worst finish of the European Tour events I played this year was 12th at the start of the year in Abu Dhabi.
“Just a really consistent season, kept putting in good performances. It would have been nice to get one win in there at the end of the year here, but Jon obviously played an incredible tournament and fully deserved it.
“I’m really proud of my year and excited for 2023.”
Shane Lowry shot 71 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 23rd place on three-under par.
There’s a crop of some seriously good young talented centres coming through the clubs atm Forde, Postlewaithe, Brownlee, Gavin, Cooney all in and around 6ft 3’, 16st. And hooker too McCarthy, Stewart, Barron, McKee, Smyth, Sheahan. Not so much at prop although Clarkson has definitely stood up so far. Hopefully Boyle, Milne, Wilson, McCarthy, Foxe can kick on. Niall Smyth in the Leinster academy looks very promising. Big tighthead that is very mobile and athletic and impressed for Blackrock a year or two ago. Hopefully Furlong can stay injury free and find some sort of resurgence in the last couple of years in his career because were definitely reliant on him.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: switch a few of them hookers to prop
@Harry O’ Callaghan: Usanov, u20 again this season, is highly rated . He did well with Emerging Ireland at 19 years of age. He’s not huge but is powerful. I think Niall Smyth must have come off injured for Leinster A last week as he was replaced early in the first half. Another big TH is Andrew Sparrow, huge lad 19 and half stone. Great young talent coming through.
Very talented is Jude. Anybody watching the game properly may even spot him in the lineout occasionally.