Rory McIlroy Golfer of the Month

Rory McIlroy’s spectacular climb into the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking, highlighted by an epic victory in the Dubai Desert Classic, has been recognised with the Northern Irishman being named the first winner of The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Award.McIlroy, who received a jeroboam of Moët and Chandon champagne along with an engraved Alms Dish in recognition of his success, was the unanimous choice of the panel as the January winner at the end of a highly competitive month for professional golf around the globe. The Tour Award - which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009 – is now under the sponsorship banner of Leisurecorp, the company whose groundbreaking agreement with The European Tour has created The Race to Dubai, which culminates in the $10 million Dubai World Championship in November. McIlroy, aged 19, who edged out Justin Rose of England after a dramatic finish to the Dubai Desert Classic and is now ranked 15th in the world, is currently second behind Spain’s Sergio Garcia in The Race to Dubai standings and was delighted to be chosen as the January award winner. “It was a huge thrill to win my first European Tour title against such a high quality field and in the place where The Race to Dubai will be decided in ten months time,” commented McIlroy, who is sponsored by the Dubai-based Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts. “Obviously, I’d love to be back at the end of the season competing for the Dubai World Championship and the Number One spot in The Race to Dubai. The win has given me a lot of confidence and I’ll be looking to use that to continue to improve for the rest of the year.” Panel Member Bill Elliott, Golf Correspondent of The Observer, said: “It was not so much the winning but the manner in which Rory won. The way he played that last shot in Dubai confirmed the emergence of a very special talent. Rory and the world of golf can look forward to the future.”
There were several outstanding achievements on The European Tour in January, including victories for Denmark’s Anders Hansen (Joburg Open), Paul Casey of England (Abu Dhabi Golf Championship) and Alvaro Quiros of Spain (Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy), who earned honourable mentions from the selection panel. Meanwhile, around the world, there were victories for European Tour Members Darren Fichardt in the Nashua Masters; Retief Goosen (Africa Open), Zach Johnson (Sony Open in Hawaii), Bernhard Langer (Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai) and Geoff Ogilvy (Mercedes-BenzChampionship). McIlroy is the first winner of The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month Award. The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year will be selected from a panel from the Association of Golf Writers, Radio and Television following the Dubai World Championship at the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, from November 19-22, 2009, where the winner of The Race to Dubai will be confirmed.