RORY MCILROY CAPPED a superb 2012 by finishing the year as world number one for the first time.
The USA PGA champion comfortably beat Luke Donald and Tiger Woods to the top of golf’s official rankings, with Justin Rose and Adam Scott completing the top five.
In a season that will be remembered for his second Major title, an eight-stroke win at Kiawah Island in August, McIlroy won five tournaments and topped the money list on both the European and PGA tours.
Graeme McDowell finished the year in 15th but there was disappointment for Shane Lowry in 52nd, just outside the cut-off which would have guaranteed him a place at next year’s US Masters.
Lowry started the year in 119th but his bid to break into the top 50 for the first time was scuppered when he was hospitalised and forced out of the end-of-season DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The Clara native will now be hoping for a strong start in 2013 which would see him tee up in the Augusta National showpiece for the first time.
Padraig Harrington was the only other Irish player to finish the season inside the world’s top 100.
Selected World Golf Rankings (31 December 2012)
1. (3) Rory McIlroy
2. (1) Luke Donald
3. (23) Tiger Woods
4. (18) Justin Rose
5. (5) Adam Scott
15. (13) Graeme McDowell
52. (119) Shane Lowry
59. (85) Padraig Harrington
138. (102) Michael Hoey
145. (48) Darren Clarke
155. (153) Peter Lawrie
292. (472) Paul McGinley
