Teenager Rory McIlroy confirmed his place in The 2009 Masters Tournament after finishing tied third in the South African Open Championship to seal his spot in the end of year Official World Golf Ranking Top 50.
McIlroy finished one stroke behind winner Richard Sterne at Pearl Valley Golf Estates to finish a superb 2008 as the World Number 39.
With the Top 50 in the Ranking all gaining starts in Augusta National in April, it means the 19 year old will make his debut in The Masters Tournament having climbed more than 200 places in the past 12 months. He is the youngest player to feature in the current Top 50
It capped a marvellous calendar year for the Ulsterman who came so close to landing his maiden European Tour title when he lost in play-offs in both the Omega European Masters and the UBS Hong Kong Open.
“It's been an absolutely great year and to get to play in Augusta in my second season, making the Top 50 in the world and staying there,” said McIlroy. “I had to go out this week and I played pretty well and I did that.
“It's going to be great, driving up Magnolia Lane. It's just going to be absolutely fantastic. I'll still be a teenager when I'm going up there. To earn my place there is absolutely fantastic, to achieve what I have, and I’m obviously looking forward to next year.
“The Masters has got a mystique. You never really know what to expect when you get there. It's just going to be absolutely fantastic. I've watched it so many years on TV and to actually get there and play is going to be great.”
Looking back over his year, McIlroy admitted that he had exceeded his expectations.
“All I wanted to do was get into the Volvo Masters and get in the Top 100 in the world, and I've done so much more than that this year,” he said. “It's been absolutely fantastic. I've worked hard for it and I'm just over the moon.”
Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen finished in 50th spot to clinch the final place in The Masters Tournament, thanks principally to his superb victory in the final Volvo Masters, which concluded the 2008 season on The European Tour.
