Race to Dubai 2014 Standings: Final Rankings and Prize Money Payouts

Rory McIlroy was unable to finish a magnificent year in the best possible fashion at the DP World Tour Championship, but the World No. 1 capped off the season by winning the coveted Race to Dubai and taking home a guaranteed $1.25 million share of the $5 million bonus pool that is split between the top 15 players.

The Northern Irishman finished two shots back from Henrik Stenson at the end-of-season finale, as a host of players from the European Tour vied to finish as high up in the rankings as possible. McIlroy has now triumphed in the Race to Dubai in two of the last three years, an emphatic indication of his ascension to the peak of the golfing world and subsequent dominance.

Here’s a look at the final Race to Dubai standings for the 2014 season:

Rank	Player	Nationality	Tournaments	Points
1.	Rory McIlroy	NIR	15	7,149,503
2.	Henrik Stenson	SWE	20	4,981,093
3.	Justin Rose	ENG	14	3,180,388
4.	Jamie Donaldson	WAL	25	3,058,166
5.	Victor Dubuisson	FRA	23	2,966,524
6.	Sergio Garcia	ESP	17	2,861,930
7.	Marcel Siem	GER	22	2,739,373
8.	Brooks Koepka	USA	15	2,631,873
9.	Alexander Levy	FRA	30	2,452,757
10.	Shane Lowry	IRE	27	2,173,864

McIlroy a Worthy Winner

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After winning a string of championships in 2014, including two major titles, McIlroy’s place atop the European Tour rankings was cemented well in advance of the DP World Tour Championship. But such is his irrepressible talent and remarkable temperament, it was little surprise that the Ryder Cup star was intent on finishing his season with panache.

He came close to winning the title but ultimately fell two shots short of Stenson. Admittedly, the four-time major champion wasn’t quite at his best at the Jumeirah Golf Estates course, but as noted here by Ewan Murray of The Guardian, that level was still good enough to get the better of the vast majority of players in the field:

After sampling so much success in 2014, it’s going to be difficult for McIlroy to better his achievements in 2015. But when the 25-year-old was quizzed on his ambitions for next season, the World No. 1 pulled no punches, per Ryan Lavner of GolfChannel.com:

"

Green jacket.

That’s the only one left to complete the collection. I’ve got a chance to complete the career grand slam at 25, something I never thought would be possible. So I’m going to work really hard and make sure I’m ready to go for April.

"

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To boast that kind of a trophy haul at such a young age would be a magnificent achievement, but McIlroy will be acutely aware that there are other challenges to come before he rocks up at Augusta National. Nonetheless, he’s been the best golfer on the planet by a distance this season and if he preserves those astonishingly impeccable performance levels, then it’s going to take some effort stopping him.

Stenson Finishes Season with a Flourish

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It may not have been quite as prosperous a year for Stenson, but after retaining his title at the DP World Tour Championship, at least he can be happy with the way he finished the year.

For the Swede, this title was his first of the entire campaign and after thrilling finish he did superbly to hold off a host of the game’s finest players including his Ryder Cup teammates McIlroy, Justin Rose and Victor Dubuisson, as noted here by Golf Central:

It was the first time in his distinguished career that Stenson has retained any title, and after a year in which much was expected of him, he’s hoping to bounce back in 2015 by winning his first ever major championship, per Ewan Murray of The Guardian:

"

It would be a nice thing to have been ranked the world’s best player at some point. 

But if I got the opportunity to choose, I’ll go for a major over being ranked No1 in the world any day of the week. I’m going to try to prepare well for the majors and be in good shape for when they start next year.

"

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The talent is certainly there for Stenson to tap into; he’s showcased it in bucket loads during the past two seasons. And perhaps, not too dissimilar to McIlroy, getting that first major title secured could act as a catalyst for bigger and better things. 

Stenson displayed a knack for holing big putts at critical times during his triumph at the Jumeirah Golf Estates and he should be pleased with finishing in second place overall after a year in which McIlroy has often been in a class above. But Stenson will be well aware that if he’s to be considered amongst the game’s elite talents, a major title is simply imperative.