GOLF TOUR NEWS: RORY McILROY has declared himself the man to beat after moving top of the Race to Dubai with a gallant runner-up finish behind Gregory Bourdy at the UBS Hong Kong Open yesterday.

The 20 year-old produced a thrilling final round six-under-par 64, but was forced to settle for a runner-up finish for a second consecutive year at Fanling as Bourdy walked away with a well-earned two-shot victory, following a conservative 67 to top the leaderboard at 19-under-par.

But with Lee Westwood struggling all week in Hong Kong and finishing well down the leaderboard, McIlroy leapfrogged the Portugal Masters champion to establish a lead of €128,172 at the top of the money list heading into this Thursday's lucrative season-ending Dubai World Championship.

A win for either McIlroy, Westwood or third placed Martin Kaymer in Dubai would seal the Order of Merit title, with Ross Fisher the only other capable of winning as Paul Casey was compelled to withdraw at the weekend without hitting a shot in anger due to a recurrence of his long-standing rib injury - although Fisher could still be caught by McIlroy and Westwood even with a first place finish.

The first prize in Dubai is €830,675 while the Race to Dubai winner will receive The Harry Vardon Trophy (first awarded in 1937), €1million from the €5million Bonus Pool and a seven year European Tour Card exemption.

Kaymer, working towards full fitness after his lengthy lay-off due to a go-karting accident in August, was one of the group of early arrivals at the stunning Earth course in Dubai yesterday who enjoyed their first taste of the course and facilities on the Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The German realises what he has to do this week, saying:

"My goal is to win. Nothing else. If I can achieve that then we will see what happens."

For his part, McIlroy, who is in + the hunt for a maiden Order of Merit title in just his second full season, observed:

"It is where I wanted to be going into the final tournament. It's where I wanted to be at the start of the week."

"I knew if I put in a good performance there was a good chance. I am number one heading in and in pole position."

After beginning the final day five adrift of Bourdy, McIlroy charged down the stretch with five gains in six holes, but his run came to an abrupt end with an infuriating three-putt bogey at the 17th - his only blemish of the day - which ended his challenge.

"I am a bit disappointed at the moment but I have the consolation of going back to the top of the Race to Dubai," he added.

"There is a lot that can go on next week but my goal this week was to win the UBS Hong Kong Open and I have come up just short again.

"But I gave it my best shot and that is all I can do."

Westwood, the 2000 Order of Merit winner, is well aware of the maths involved and is confident this week, where he struggled with the greens for four rounds, is only a blip in his recent run of four consecutive top 10 finishes prior to Hong Kong.

"It's in my hands regardless. The difference between first and second next week is more than the difference so if I win next week, I win the money list," he said.

"That's what I set out at the start of the last few weeks, to make sure I was within the difference between first and second and I am going to be that."

Despite McIlroy moving to within one stroke of Bourdy on the back nine, the 27-year-old Frenchman always looked in control and ensured his place in this week's field with a third European Tour title.

Darren Clarke finished 11th with a third consecutive 67 but narrowly missed out on the season-ending showpiece.

Canadian Stephen Ames won the Disney Classic yesterday after a three-way sudden death playoff with George McNeill and Justin Leonard at Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Hong Kong Open

(Hong Kong GC, Fanling); Brit unless stated, Irish in bold , par 70):

261 - Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 64 67 63 67 ... €279,288.94

263 - Rory McIlroy66 68 65 64 ... €186,190.39

264 - Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 63 68 65 68, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 66 68 66 64 ... €94,345.31

266 - Ian Poulter 68 66 68 64, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66 68 68 64 ... €64,851.93

267 - Peter Lawrie66 68 66 67 ... €50,272.81

268 - Simon Dyson 68 67 67 66 ... €418,94.01

269 - David Dixon 64 69 69 67, Scott Strange (Aus) 68 65 70 66 ... €35,526.12