World Rankings
Another gong for McIlroy as Clarke claims best finish of trying season
Rory McIlroy crowned a magnificent year when he was voted RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for 2014 last night. But it was also a positive day in many respects for Darren Clarke as he notched his best finish of a trying season in Dubai.
![Another gong for McIlroy as Clarke claims best finish of trying season](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52780078e4b0782c048f31cb/1419211766830-LVX7SZUCDZ9PYVX2RODX/image-asset.jpeg)
Irish winners and losers in 2013
Graeme McDowell and Simon Thornton were Irish golf’s big winners in the world rankings in 2013 but it was a disappointing year for the other six players who ended the season inside the Top-300 - Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington, Michael Hoey, Darren Clarke and Peter Lawrie.
![Irish winners and losers in 2013](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52780078e4b0782c048f31cb/1387208756857-M21F0ZGDR5JTO5M6J3BL/131206_Woods_McDowell_203-2.jpg)
Only Els, Mickelson, Furyk, Woods and Garcia ahead of Harrington
![](https://static.squarespace.com/static/52780078e4b0782c048f31cb/52992bcee4b008c3d684907f/52992bd6e4b008c3d684bbce/1382343529893/1000w/The_Open_2013__I2C2898.jpg)
Stenson up to world No 4, McIlroy falls two spots to No 6
![](https://static.squarespace.com/static/52780078e4b0782c048f31cb/52992bcee4b008c3d684907f/52992bd6e4b008c3d684bb16/1379903361877/1000w/stensonfedex2013.jpg)
McIlroy contractually obliged to miss World Cup?
![Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell](https://static.squarespace.com/static/52780078e4b0782c048f31cb/52992bcee4b008c3d684907f/52992bd6e4b008c3d684bafd/1379521358001/1000w/The.Open.2013.CB7E4575.jpg)