Exhausted McIlroy set to take break

Rory McIlroy has pulled out of this week's event in Thailand and on doctor's advice will stay in Dubai for a few days' rest before flying home.

The 22-year-old US Open champion has been suffering from a virus and was even told it might be Dengue fever, so is looking forward to putting his clubs away until just before the Abu Dhabi Championship - Tiger Woods as well as Luke Donald will be there - on 20-23 January.

He finished 11th in the Dubai World Championship yesterday, and saw Donald complete a unique money title double by finishing third behind Alvaro Quiros.

"I think this week was one too many," he said, referring to a hectic recent schedule that has seen him make three trips to Asia and one to Bermuda.

"But Luke deserves it. Basically every time he's teed it up he's had a chance or he's finished in the top five or top 10. Mentally you have to be so good just to keep grinding out the scores when you need to.

"But I've made great progress this year - with my game, with my results, with everything. I feel like I'm swinging the club as good as I ever have and I feel like my body is as strong as it's ever been.

"I've won my first major (by eight shots with a record score and at a younger age than any US Open winner since Bobby Jones in 1933) and my goals are just to win tournaments and try to become a multiple-major champion."

McIlroy needed to win and have Donald finish outside the top 9 but the Englishman came third after he finished with two 66s, taking no bogeys in the last 46 holes and notching birdies on the last three for his 20th top 10 finish in 26 events in 2011.

That meant Donald completed the first ever double of money list titles on both sides of the Atlantic. On the last, he raised his two index fingers to the sky. The double was done and he thought of his late father, who died suddenly only last month.

"He would have been very proud and he would just give me a big hug," he said, tears coming to his eyes.

"My father hopped into my head quite a few times (over the closing stretch). I didn't really look at a leaderboard until the 13th, but didn't see Rory's name and so knew it was mine.

"I had so many mixed emotions. This is something I didn't think was possible, but it became a possibility midway through the season.

"It's driven me to work hard and be as successful as I've been. Rory made it tough, but for it actually to happen is almost a weight off my shoulders.

"History is why we play the game and I'm very proud of it. I got what I came for. I've played extremely solid, consistent golf all year and it's down to a good work ethic and good people around me pushing me hard.

"I hope it will help me in my quest for a major. It feels amazing and it's my greatest year for sure. I feel I've a lot to achieve, but this is something I will never forget."

Winner Quiros had a double of his own after capturing the Dubai Desert Classic in February, can look forward to April's Masters as well after climbing back into the world's top 50 - all the way to 21st, in fact - with his victory.

It was achieved with a closing 40-foot eagle putt which shut the door on former Open champion Paul Lawrie, who then sank a 12-footer for second place.