Santa Claus has come a week early for double Major winning Rory McIlroy with the 23-year old Northern Irishman to celebrate his fifth full season in the pro ranks as undisputed World No. 1.

The final ranking of 2012 was released today (Monday) in London with McIlroy 4.60 ranking points ahead of World No. 2 Luke Donald.

McIlroy was undisputedly the best performed golfer all season capturing a second Major Championship, winning three other events on the PGA Tour and then finishing the year as No. 1 on both the PGA Tour and European Tour’s.

And for good measure McIlroy one-putted his closing five holes for birdie to capture the Race to Dubai season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

McIlroy was also voted Player of the Year on the PGA Tour while the European-based Association of Golf Writers also voted him Player of the Year and ahead of the victorious European Ryder Cup team.

However spare a thought for Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy and Ireland’s Shane Lowry who end the year a respective 51st and 52nd on the rankings.

Ogilvy’s exemption in winning the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot means he is no longer exempt for the Masters or Open Championship, and he’s missed out on earning an Augusta exemption for next April by .02 of a world ranking point.

Ogilvy could have secured a return invitation to Augusta National by finishing third in Sunday’s concluding Australian PGA Championship but unfortunately the US-based Aussie had to settle for a share of fourth place.

Lowry has never competed in the Masters and the reigning Portugal Masters champion has been left ruiing ending his season 52nd on the World Rankings and .05 shy of an automatic Augusta National invitation.

Rory McIlroy set to savour a Christmas to remember. (Photo – Stuart Franklin)