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Rory McIlroy has described being crowned as European Tour No 1 for a second time as "truly special" as he reflected on a memorable 2014 campaign.
The world No 1 was confirmed as the winner of the Race to Dubai following Brook's Koepka's victory at the Turkish Airlines Open, the penultimate tournament of the European Tour's Final Series.
Closest rival Henrik Stenson closed with a 64 to claim outright third place in Antalya, finishing three shots adrift of Koepka, but the Swede is a distant 2,726,514 points behind McIlroy with only 1,666,600 on offer to the winner of next week's season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy, 25, also added another record to his collection as he became the youngest player in history to capture the Harry Vardon Trophy twice having claimed his first in 2012.
The Northern Irishman ended an 18-month title drought with his victory at the BMW PGA Championship in May, and he returned to the top of the world rankings with a stunning run of form in July and August.
He captured his first Open Championship crown at Royal Liverpool before winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship, his fourth major victory.
"This has obviously been the best season of my career by a long way, and to win The Race to Dubai for the second time really is something truly special"
“This has obviously been the best season of my career by a long way, and to win The Race to Dubai for the second time really is something truly special," said McIlroy, who will return to action in Dubai next week after taking time off to prepare for a court case involving his former management company.
"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.
“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. 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.
“In some ways the pressure is off next week, but I’ll fight very hard to end the year on a high with another victory. I’ve a great record in this tournament, and in Dubai generally, having secured my first European Tour win there in 2009.
“Finishing with five birdies to win the DP World Tour Championship in 2012 is right up there with my best performances on The European Tour, so every time I go back to Jumeirah Golf Estates, it always brings back some happy memories.
“It’s a great tournament to finish the season with, and if I can notch up another win it really will complete an amazing year. I’m looking forward to getting out on the golf course and feeling that competitive edge again.”
European Tour chief executive George O'Grady added: “During another season of incredible success for the European Tour, with our members winning three of the four major championships, it says something about his outstanding form that Rory ends the year as the dominant player not only on our Tour, but on the world stage.
“Given the extraordinary success he has achieved, it is only right that the season should culminate in Rory winning the Harry Vardon Trophy for the second time, and it would be no surprise to anyone if he were to end his campaign with another win in Dubai next week.
"He is a credit both to himself and the European Tour, and a most deserving winner of The Race to Dubai.”
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