McIlroy loses in Shanghai but extends Euro lead
WORLD No1 Rory McIlroy remains on track to claim both the European and American money lists this year, despite failing to catch Peter Hanson in yesterday’s BMW Masters in Shanghai.
The Northern Irish golfer lost to the Swede by one shot in a thrilling finish, yet McIlroy nonetheless extended his lead at the top of the European Tour’s Race To Dubai money list.
He also leads Tiger Woods by nearly $1.91m in the US PGA Tour rankings, but must now hold off Woods and Hanson in each race.
“He played well and deserved his win,” McIlroy said of Hanson. “To go out there with the lead and play the way he did and shoot 67 is very impressive, so he was always going to be tough to beat.”
Hanson’s $1.16m pay cheque lifted him above England’s Justin Rose in the Race to Dubai, where he now trails USPGA champion McIlroy by around $800,000.
Hanson has competed in 19 tournaments in the European race while McIlroy has only played in 12 and will now miss the $7m WGC-HSBC Champions event at Shenzhen, starting this Thursday.
Yesterday McIlroy was four behind with five holes to play, yet managed to test Hanson’s nerve by narrowing the lead to one point.
Hanson held on to finish 21 under par, however, while England’s Luke Donald, who topped both the European and US money lists last year, came third, three shots behind McIlroy.