Rory McIlroy targeted a Major win in 2023 after becoming the first player to ever finish the season as the DP World Tour No.1, world No.1 and FedEx Cup champion.
Jon Rahm’s victory at the DP World Tour Championship saw the Ulsterman add the title of best player on the former European Tour to his global domination.
And in a season overshadowed by the controversy and cash of LIV Golf, McIlroy banked a further $1.5m this week - including the $1m bonus for topping the rankings - to add to the $28.5m he won on the PGA Tour this year.
McIlroy, 33, called himself a “model of consistency” after finishing in the top 12 in all 10 events on the DP World Tour - including the four Majors.
His play - and his motivation - seemed to improve as he became more vocal about the Saudi breakaway league and he continued his personal feud with Greg Norman until this week.
But his last Major winner remains the 2014 US PGA and he will make his ninth attempt to complete his career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.
"I am really proud of my year and excited about 2023," said McIlroy. “It's been a fantastic year both sides of the pond.
“It's an amazing achievement to win this tour rankings and finish the year as world No. 1. But to do it in America, as well, it's very cool.
“What’s next? Hopefully a Major championship. It has taken me seven years to get my hands back on this trophy again. It will be eight years since I have won a Major. If I can keep playing the way I am playing, hopefully I will give myself the chance to do that.
"I feel like I'm healthy. I'm 33 and I feel like my body is in as best shape as it's ever been and hopefully it's just moving ahead and keep on moving on.”
McIlroy wins the Harry Vardon Trophy for the top player on the DP World Tour for the fourth time - and becomes only the second man after Henrik Stenson in 2013 to win the title and the FedEx Cup in the same year.
"It seems like a long time since the Texas Open the week before Augusta when I was struggling a little bit and I made a couple of tweaks with my game and with my equipment,” he recalled. “I don't think I played as consistently in my entire career as I'm doing right now. I am as complete a golfer as I feel I have ever been.”
Rahm became the first player to claim the season-ending event three times with a closing 67 to finish on 20-under par and two shots clear of Tyrrell Hatton (66) and Alex Noren (67).
Matt Fitzpatrick needed to a top-two finish to have a realistic chance of topping the rankings but the US Open champion closed with a 73 to finish tied fifth with Tommy Fleetwood (69). McIlroy finished fourth with his 68.
Rahm, who did not finish in the top ten in any Majors this year, said: "I like this course and the course likes me. Hopefully people can stop telling me it was a bad year. Three wins in three different continents. Yeah, it wasn't a major championship but it's still a really, really good season.”
