Dubai: Graeme McDowell, who at this stage last year lost the Race to Dubai to Martin Kaymer, has reassured Rory McIlroy after he succumbed to a similar fate against Luke Donald yesterday.
McIlroy needed to win the Dubai World Championship with Donald finishing below ninth to claim the overall crown.
But Donald was third on 16-under after a final round 66, while McIlroy ended tied for 11th on nine-under after a third consecutive 71, losing out on the European Tour money-list by more than a million euros in the end.
Speaking after finishing nine-under himself at the season-ending tournament, former US Open champion McDowell said of McIlroy's efforts: "It was always going to be difficult up against top players and Rory just happened to be up against the best player in the world by head and shoulders right now.
"Rory's had a great season so I have no sympathy for him at all he's a hell of a player and will win many more tournaments.
"I think any amount of sympathy we have for Rory we just have to look at Luke and say what a great year he's had.
"He's getting everything he deserves in winning both money-lists and it's just a phenomenal achievement.
Bundles of talent
"Rory has bundles and bundles of talent. Not many guys make the game look as easy as he does.
"I didn't have the chance to play Tiger Woods in the early noughties when he was really the man.
"But Rory's been the best of the new breed I've seen by a long shot.
"He has it all and when he puts it all together the sky is the limit.
"I agree he hasn't won as many times as he should but that comes with maturity he's starting to win a bit more regularly now and it's a scary prospect when he puts it all together."
