SINGAPORE – After capturing his second major and finishing the year at No. 1, Rory McIlroy had just one goal left — winning the money titles on both sides of the Atlantic.
His third-place finish at the Singapore Open on Sunday guarantees he'll reach that milestone.
McIlroy has $4.7 million in winnings on the European Tour, giving him a $1.33 million edge over Sweden's Peter Hanson.
McIlroy had already wrapped up the PGA Tour money title with more than $8 million. He becomes the second golfer in history to win both titles in the same season, matching Luke Donald's feat from last year.
"It really is hugely satisfying to finally become the European No. 1, especially after finishing second two of the last three years," the 23-year-old McIlroy said.
"It has always been one of my goals to become No. 1 in Europe ever since securing my Tour card five years ago, but then to also end the year as both European and PGA Tour No. 1 is just amazing."
McIlroy, who won his second major at the PGA Championship in August, needed to rally on Sunday in Singapore to finish third.
He then had to wait for Louis Oosthuizen to lose the title in a playoff to Matteo Manassero. The South African could have still passed McIlroy if he had won Singapore and the Dubai World Championship.
McIlroy said his main focus will be to "keep trying to improve on any little thing" next year.
"It's been nice that, year after year, my results have improved and I'd like to keep that going, but if I feel like I'm a better golfer next year than I was this year, and so on, then that's how I want to feel," he said.
He'd like to add to his number of majors, though. Asked to rank his three biggest achievements of 2012, McIlroy didn't hesitate: "Major, No. 1, and then the money list."
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