McIlroy heads to Dubai looking to make complete meteoric rise to top

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Only three players can stop Rory McIlroy from completing his meteoric rise to European No. 1 after the Northern Ireland ace claimed a battling second at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The 20-year-old moved top of the season-long money list, the Race to Dubai, by leapfrogging Lee Westwood with a runner-up finish for a second consecutive year in Hong Kong.

And with just this week's new season-ending Dubai World Championship remaining, only Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher can mathematically deny McIlroy his first Order of Merit title in just his second full season.

Fifth-placed Paul Casey has ruled himself out of the lucrative showpiece due to injury, while Geoff Ogilvy is also out of the running after a lowkey display at last week's JBWere Masters in Australia.

"I am the man to beat, and that's the way I wanted it going to Dubai," said McIlroy. "I knew if I put in a good performance there was a good chance. I am No. 1 heading in and in pole position."

After in-form Portugal Masters champion Westwood finished well down the leaderboard in Hong Kong, McIlroy leads by $192,000.

A win for either Westwood, McIlroy or Kaymer on the new Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai on Sunday would secure an unassailable lead at the top of the money list, while a victory for Volvo World Match Play Championship winner Fisher would still leave McIlroy and Westwood in contention with highly-placed finishes.

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