European Tour: Rory McIlroy's seven consecutive top two finishes

With Rory McIlroy's victory at the Dubai Desert Classic, the Northern Irishman extended his European Tour record to seven consecutive top-two finishes.

Since finishing tied-14th at the Scottish Open, McIlroy has recorded four wins from seven tournaments, finishing in second in the other three.

The remarkable run saw the Northern Irishman win last year's Race to Dubai and crowned European Tour Golfer of the Year, with McIlroy looking equaly impressive during last month's Desert Swing. 

How has he done it? We look back at Rory's 'magnificient seven'...

July - Open Championship (first)

McIlroy led from the outset to become only the third player in history to win three majors by the age of 25.

Back-to-back six-under-par 66’s gave him a four-shot lead at the midway point, with two eagles from the final three holes of the third round putting McIlroy six shots clear going into the final day.

Sergio Garcia piled on the pressure with a final-round 66 to stay in contention, but McIlroy held his nerve with a final round 71 to take a two-shot victory.

August - WGC Bridgestone Invitational (first)

A fortnight on from holding off Garcia at Hoylake, McIlroy overturned a three-shot deficit on the final day to beat the Spaniard in Ohio.

After following up a second round 64 with a four-under third round 66, the Northern Irishman opened the final day with four birdies in the first five holes to move level at the top of the leaderboard.

Garcia faltered with a bogey on the 15th,  as McIlroy carded a closing 66 take a two-shot victory and reclaim the world No 1 ranking.

August – US PGA Championship (first) 

McIlroy became the first player since Padraig Harrington six years earlier to win back-to-back majors, after a dramatic final day at Valhalla.

Holding a one-shot lead going in to the final day, a second PGA Championship title looked in doubt after two early bogeys saw Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson move into a three-way tie for the lead.

An eagle on the 10th kept Rory’s hopes alive as those around him dropped shots and, after a lengthy rain delay, he secured a narrow one-shot win from Mickelson under fading light. 

October – Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (tied-second)

A week on from Europe’s Ryder Cup victory, McIlroy was left ruing a slow start at Carnoustie as Oliver Wilson, who wasn’t even ranked in the top 100 on the Challenge Tour, took a shock one-shot win for his maiden European Tour title. 

Rory opened with a one-over 73 to leave himself nine shots adrft, but bounced back with a second round 67 and birdie-filled eight-under third round 64 to go in to the final round three behind.

The world No 1 opened with a double bogey at the first, although recovered with four successive birdies to stay in the hunt. With Tommy Fleetwood and Richie Ramsay also pressing, Wilson hit a birdie on the 16th to move back in front before holding on for a one-shot win as McIlroy was left in the group tied for second. 

November – DP World Tour Championship (tied-second)

After a six week break, McIlroy made an instant return to competition by opening with a six-under 66 to share the lead with Shane Lowry.

A second round 70 saw Rory slip down the leaderboard, while back-to-back double bogeys in the third round left him heading into the final round four shots off leaders Henrik Stenson and Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

McIlroy carded four birdies during a bogey-free 68, but was left tied for second with Justin Rose and Victor Dubuisson as Stenson secured a two-shot win. 

January – Abu Dhabi Golf Championship (second)

As Martin Kaymer crumbled from a 10-shot lead, McIlroy was presented an opportunity to snatch an unlikely victory – but fell one-shot short.

A disappointing third round 71 left McIlroy going into the final day eight shots off the pace, but carded six birdies in his first 15 holes to give himself a chance.

Needing an eagle on the last to take the tournament in to a play-off, McIlroy could only make birdie as Gary Stal secured his first European Tour title. 

January - Dubai Desert Classic (first)

At the same venue where McIlroy won his first European Tour title six years earlier, the Northern Irishman picked up his 10th tour victory with a convincing display at the Emirates GC.

Holding a one-shot lead at the halfway stage after an eight-under second 64, McIlory carded five birdies on the back nine of a third round 66 to move four strokes clear of Morten Masden.

McIlroy then cruised home with a final-day 70 to finish three ahead of Alex Noren, with Stephen Gallacher a further three shots back in third.