Top 10 consolation prize for McIlroy

RORY MCILROY still had something to cheer last night despite missing out on the European Tour number one spot – he has joined Sergio Garcia as the only 20-year-olds ever to make the world’s top 10.

Contrary to initial projections, McIlroy’s third place finish at the Dubai World Championship was just enough to take him from 13th to 10th.

Lee Westwood, whose six-stroke victory denied McIlroy the Race to Dubai title, is back up to his career-high position of fourth. Tiger Woods was 21 when he first entered the world’s top 10 in 1997.

Latest rankings:1 Tiger Woods 15.93pts2 Phil Mickelson 8.953 Steve Stricker 7.204 Lee Westwood 6.815 Paul Casey 5.826 Pádraig Harrington 5.827 Henrik Stenson 5.478 Sergio Garcia 5.189 Kenny Perry 5.1710 Rory McIlroy 5.1211 Jim Furyk 5.0812 Martin Kaymer 4.8913 Ian Poulter 4.8314 Geoff Ogilvy 4.7815 Sean O’Hair 4.4616 Stewart Cink 4.4417 Ernie Els 4.2818 Lucas Glover 4.0919 Retief Goosen 4.0520 Ross Fisher 4.02