Rory making strong case in honours race

McILROY CLOSES ON CROWN

- BY NEIL MCLEMAN

RORY McILROY admitted getting knighted would be “an unbelievably massive honour" after turning the Race to Dubai title race into a procession.

The Masters champion leads his closest challenger Marco Penge by eight shots after his opening 66 at the DP World Tour Championship.

The five-time Major winner is bidding to finish as the European No.1 for a fourth consecutive year - and the seventh in total.

But there are growing calls for the Northern Irishman to be handed an even greater honour after completing his career Grand Slam and leading Europe to an away Ryder Cup win.