The 20-year-old from Northern Ireland has his sights on the first prize of more than £744,000 at the Dubai World Championship.

If he can do that then McIlroy will also collect a bonus of nearly £900,000 for winning the European Tour Order of Merit.

He would be the second youngest player ever to do it - Seve Ballesteros was 19 in 1976 - and he would also become only the second 20-year-old to make the world top 10 since the ranking system began in 1986.

Even a runners-up finish tomorrow could be good enough for that and if it happens Sergio Garcia will be delighted to have company.

"I love the way he plays and I love the kid," said the 29-year-old Spaniard.

"It's great to see him doing so well. He's been playing great all year and he's playing great this week."

At halfway on the new Greg Norman-designed Earth course McIlroy was a share of second place, but even with a lead of over £114,000 at the top of the Order of Merit he still has it all to do.

That is because the player two strokes ahead of him was his chief money list rival Lee Westwood.