Rory McIlroy has been named European Tour Player of the Year after wrapping up both the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai last month.

Despite the fact that he only played 12 tournaments on tour (the minimum needed to be eligible for the Race to Dubai final series is 13), the world number three was allowed to win the order of merit on account of a medical exemption after he missed a number of tournaments with an ankle injury.

It’s the third time in four seasons that the Holywood golfer has won the award and he becomes the first players since Pádraig Harrington in 2008 to do so in consecutive years.

McIlroy won the Dubai Desert Classic and the WGC Cadillac Matchplay before he injured his ankle while playing football with friends.

In his 12 starts on tour he posted eight top-10s, surpassed only by British Masters champion Matt Fitzpatrick.

He joins Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros as a three-time winner of the title.

“It is a huge honour for me to be named European Tour Golfer of the Year again,” he said. “After a good first half to the season, the injury was obviously a setback for me, so to finish the year strongly with my second victory in Dubai, plus picking up the Race to Dubai title again - was very satisfying.

“I am already looking forward to starting the new season and trying to achieve even more in 2016.”