Date: November 17, 2014
Author: Mark Hayes / www.golf.org.au

McIlroy wins money list, Ormsby has big pay day

McIlroy has been given the perfect gift before his Emirates Australian Open title defence – victory on the European Tour’s money list.

McIlroy, who didn’t play in the weekend’s Turkish Airlines Open, has a sufficient lead that not even victory for his nearest rival Henrik Stenson in this week’s World Tour Championship in Dubai will not alter the top of the standings.

The 25-year-old Northern Irishman is more than 2.7 million Euros ahead of Stenson, ensuring his second money list win in three seasons after winning The Open and US PGA Championship mid-season and becoming the third youngest player after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to win three of the four majors.

"To win the Race to Dubai for the second time really is something truly special," McIlroy said.

”Winning it for the first time two years ago was a fantastic feeling, but I feel like I'm now a more complete player and my all-round game has moved to another level.

"That four-week spell over the summer, from the Open to the US PGA Championship, would have to be the best golf of my life, so I feel like I've really earned the Race to Dubai.

"I've put in a lot of hard work this season, with my game and my fitness, so it's nice to get the rewards at the end of it."

The world No.1 regained his winning ways at Royal Sydney last year, then pressed on to dominate the season on both sides of the Atlantic.

McIlroy, who also won the European Tour's PGA Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio, said he would press for a win in Dubai before returning to Sydney to play at The Australian Golf Club from November 27-30.

"In some ways the pressure is off, but I'll fight very hard to end the year on a high with another victory," he said.

Stenson, European No.1 a year ago, moved second on the money list by finishing third in Turkey, while the only other contenders — Marcel Siem, Jamie Donaldson and Sergio Garcia – each needed to win to stay in the race.

Brooks Koepka of the United States won the tournament by a stroke, overhauling South Australian Wade Ormsby with a stellar final-round 65 to beat Ian Poulter by a shot with Stenson third.

Ormsby, who began with the final-round lead, shot a fourth consecutive sub-par round, but his 71 was only enough to finish in a tie for fourth, good for a career-best pay cheque of 394,625 Euros.