Rory McIlroy is prepared to take the race to be Europe’s number one right to the wire after being overhauled at the top of the standings by Lee Westwood.
The Englishman claimed a dramatic victory at the Portugal Masters on Sunday to move 200,000 Euros ahead of McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.
But there is still plenty of money to play for in a lucrative end-of-season swing and the Northern Irishman is confident Westwood can be pegged back.
McIlroy’s bid for the Harry Vardon Trophy continues at next week’s World Matchplay before he takes part in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, the Hong Kong Open and the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
“Lee overtook me at the weekend and I think we are playing the same tournaments in the run in,” McIlroy said.
“It will be good to chase him all the way to the finish and I will have to play some really good golf to try and overtake him.
“But there are lots of other guys still in with chance like Martin Kaymer and Paul Casey and there are a few others just outside but can make big moves. I will be trying my best to get back on top.”
McIlroy, meanwhile, suggested that he is set to remain on the European Tour next season.
The 20-year-old had been considering a switch to the PGA Tour but said: “I am still thinking about it but I am leaning towards playing in Europe. I’ll obviously play 12 or 13 events in America if I don’t take my card anyway.
“With the flying back and forth, I have seen a few guys in the past that haven’t really done that too well and I just feel that I have a lot of time on my hands, so if I don’t do it next year I can always do it the year after.”