Luke Donald was widely applauded a year ago in becoming the first player in a season to be number one in both Europe and the US but he’s now in absolute awe at the ease Rory McIlroy is repeating the effort this year.

Several Irish golfers, including Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Peter Lawrie, have a great deal to play for in the three season-ending tournaments on the European Tour — this week’s Barclays Singapore Open followed by the Hong Kong Open and the Dubai World Championship.

Rory McIlroy’s goal of ending the season as European No. 1 has received a huge boost with his five nearest rivals, including closest challenger Peter Hanson, deciding not to contest two of the last three events on this year’s schedule.

While a Rory McIlroy-inspired Shane Lowry muscles his way into contention, Graeme McDowell was lucky he didn’t break his hand on day two of the WGC–HSBC Champions event in Shenzhen.

Life gets better and better for Shane Lowry.

Despite suffering from the effects of pollution, Rory McIlroy managed to keep in sight of Irish Open winner Jamie Donaldson on the opening day of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

Shane Lowry will join a number of fellow European Tour members in taking advantage before the advent of new changes and enter this year’s PGA Tour Qualifying School.

Paul Lawrie believes he is in the form of his life with the Ryder Cup only a month away.

Less than a year since his Masters meltdown – a collapse many people thought would leave long-lasting scars – Rory McIlroy is golf’s new world number one.

Rory McIlroy insists he will not become obsessed by his quest to become world number one.

Rory McIlroy has contested the Omega Dubai Desert Classic more than any other major tour event in his career.

Whether you agree paying Tiger Woods more in appearance money than the entire prize fund was worth in Abu Dhabi at the weekend or not, he contributed hugely to the success of the tournament.

Tiger Woods was ideally placed to put down a huge marker for the season after charging into a share of the lead with a day to go at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Rory McIlroy feels ready to make a better start to 2012 than his girlfriend.

SPEND an hour or two in Shane Lowry’s company and you quickly find an uncomplicated young man with a bright, positive attitude to life and one whose head won’t be turned by fame and fortune.

EUROPEAN TOUR chief George O’Grady wasn’t exaggerating when he claimed on Sunday that 2011 has been the greatest year in his organisation’s history.

Luke Donald pointed his two index fingers to the sky today after completing an unprecedented double – a double that has earned the English world number one an amazing £8m (€9.4m).

Luke Donald today became the first man to win the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic in the same season.

Having already topped America’s PGA Tour standings, Luke Donald was almost ready to be crowned Europe’s number one this season after the early exchanges in the Dubai World Championship final round.

Rory McIlroy today conceded defeat in his bid to deny Luke Donald arguably the greatest feat in golf this year.

Luke Donald is poised to complete the best year of his golfing life in real style tomorrow.

Rory McIlroy virtually invited Luke Donald to put the champagne on ice with a dreadful start to his third round at the Dubai World Championship today.

RORY MCILROY hopes the arrival of girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki can help lift his spirits heading for the weekend rounds of the Dubai World Championship.

Alvaro Quiros, with one win in Dubai already this year, today emerged as the biggest threat to Rory McIlroy’s hopes of ending the European Tour season with back-to-back wins – and maybe taking the money list title as well.

Luke Donald's shoulders slumped when he bogeyed the opening hole for the second round running at the Dubai World Championship today. But, just as he did in his first round 72, the world number one came straight back with three birdies in the next four holes.

RORY McILROY believes the pressure is all on Luke Donald this weekend as the pair battle to end the season as the circuit’s number one.

The European Tour title race looks set to go right to the wire after Rory McIlroy produced a fabulous nine-hole stretch today, just as Luke Donald was losing his way.

Rory McIlroy seized on a series of unexpected errors by Luke Donald today and reignited his bid for the European Tour number one title.

Rory McIlroy lost a ball with only his fifth shot of the day and was left with a mountain to climb at the Dubai World Championship today.

Rory McIlroy has endured a topsy turvy start to the Dubai World Championship to stand at one under par, six shots off Paul Lawrie's clubhouse lead.

Ireland's Shane Lowry is just four off the lead, on three under with two to play, of Paul Lawrie who leads on seven under in the clubhouse.

TIGER WOODS had the 93rd win of his career on Sunday and may yet go on to beat the record 18 majors of Jack Nicklaus – but he has never had the talent of Rory McIlroy.

Tiger Woods had the 93rd win of his career on Sunday and may yet go on to beat the record 18 majors of Jack Nicklaus – but he has never had the talent of Rory McIlroy.

RORY MCILROY will aim to show he has learnt the lesson of two years ago when he goes head-to-head with Luke Donald in Dubai tomorrow.

Rory McIlroy goes into his European Tour showdown with Luke Donald this week waiting for the results of blood tests.

THE vast wealth of a Dubai company called DP World and their willingness to pour a major share of their riches into this week’s Dubai World Championship means Rory McIlroy could still emerge as Europe’s number one golfer.

Tiger Woods has climbed back up to 21st in the world rankings after finally ending more than two years without a victory.

SUPER agent Conor Ridge experienced an emotional Sunday at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

RORY McILROY will still visit a Dubai hospital later today despite an energy-charged performance in capturing the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Rory McIlroy has revealed Lee Westwood’s stunning 62 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge helped spur him on to a crucial victory after he won the Hong Kong Open by two strokes.

Rory McIlroy kept his hopes of winning the Race to Dubai alive as a closing 65 saw him claim a two-shot victory at the Hong Kong Open.

ONE of the first aspects on the agenda of Horizon Sports Conor Ridge in managing the affairs of Rory McIlroy has been to curb the ‘madness’ of his client’s heavy end-of-season schedule.

THE Chinese government has a history of detaining dissidents, but putting the US Open golf trophy under lock and key sounds too bizarre to be true.

Two bogeys in the last three holes saw Rory McIlroy fall back to a tie for the lead with Alvaro Quiros as the second round of the Hong Kong Open drew to a close with the front-runners on seven under.