Rory McIlroy reluctantly accepted a career best of No. 3 after finishing within two shots of success in the KLM Open in Holland.
McIlroy has unseated German Martin Kaymer to move in behind the England duo of Luke Donald and Lee Westwood atop of the rankings.
And Kaymer, who missed the Dutch cut, has slumped to No. 6 in the world with the American pair of Steve Stricker and Dustin Johnson now a respective fourth and fifth.
England’s Simon Dyson claimed his second Race to Dubai in six events after earlier winning the Irish Open courtesy of a 66 for a 12-under par tally and one clear of compatriot David Lynn (68).
Simon Dyson joins Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer in winning three KLM Open titles. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
It also is Dyson’s third KLM Open success in six years and he joins two of the greats in European Tour golf, Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer with three Dutch wins.
“I am absolutely delighted to have my name on the same trophy as Seve and Bernhard, and it’s a dream come true,” said Dyson.
“To win any title once is very tough but to win the same title three times is a fantastic feeling.
“I’ve played some good golf the last few months but I didn’t think two wins would come so quickly together.”
McIlroy birdied three holes in succession early on failed to capitalise before also birding his closing two holes in a final round 67 for a 10-under par tally on the rain-sodden Hilversum course.
“Finishing third this week is a consolation more than anything, and it’s nice to have two thirds in a row because going into last week I wanted to improve my world ranking and I’ve managed to do that,” said McIlroy.
“But my competitive spirit is such that I would rather have gone to third in the world by winning this week.
“If I were to close out these tournaments I would go to No. 3 in the world or No. 2 but I just haven’t been able to manage that these two weeks.”
A fierce 45-minute electrical storm near 10pm local time on Saturday meant more delays to the start of Sunday’s earlier final round.
It gave McIlroy some extra shut eye after he had been up-and-down all night trying to catch TV coverage of girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki eventually losing her U.S. Open semi-final encounter to Serena Williams.
“I was disappointed for Caroline as she fought so hard but then Serene is some player,” said McIlroy.
“I was in bed from 11pm to 2am and when they still were not out on court, I went back to bed from 2.30am to 4am and slept, and then watched her match from 4am to 6am, and then maybe slept again from about 6.30am to eight-o-clock,” he said.
“So that that extra hour delay gave me another hour’s rest which was nice.”
McIlroy also walked from course having lost a cover off one of his clubs but it had been picked up by England’s Robert Rock who joked: “Sorry, Rors! It’s already on ebay.”
The young Ulsterman has a fortnight’s break from competition before his next event, the September 29th starting Alfred Dunhill Links where his father, Gerry will again partner him.
