Money no motivation for McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has never had a pay-day like it, two cheques totalling €1.06m.

But it was not what the 20-year-old really wanted. He was looking for the €1.77m that Lee Westwood grabbed instead.

McIlroy described finishing third in the Dubai World Championship and second on the European Tour money list as possibly the biggest disappointment of his career so far.

He had led the Order of Merit going into the final counting event and shared top spot in the tournament after 15 holes of the third round, but from then on it did not quite go as he hoped.

McIlroy did at least have the consolation of joining Sergio Garcia as the only 20-year-old’s to make the world’s top 10.

“I was trying to become the youngest player since Seve (Ballesteros) to win the title,” said McIlroy before moving on to China for his World Cup debut this week.

“I haven’t been able to do it and I’m disappointed, but when I look back on the season it’s been fantastic.

“It’s been a great learning curve. I’ve played well in the majors and I know I can compete against the best players in the world now.

“That gives me a lot going into next year.”

As for the €741,699 bonus pool reward and €321,402 tournament prize he added: “It’s an unbelievable amount of money, but that’s not why I was playing.

“I was trying to win the Dubai World Championship, but Lee was just in a different class.”

Westwood won by six from Ross McGowan and by eight from McIlroy.