Rory McIlroy more than halved the deficit to Patrick Reed at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World with a runner-up finish at the BMW PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman was handed an unexpected opportunity in his pursuit of a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title on Friday when American Reed retired through injury during the third round.
He capitalised on the chance it presented, closing out his week at Wentworth Club with a four-under-par 68 as he finished in a four-way tie for second alongside fellow Major Championship winners Aaron Rai and Adam Scott, along with Spaniard Manuel Elvira.
Ahead of the Rolex Series event, McIlroy trailed Reed by 839.76 points but he has now closed the gap to 307.76.
The pair are next set to tee it up in the same event at the DP World India Championship next month, before when Reed is due to compete at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland subject to his injury recovery.
"I'm excited," said McIlroy. "I have three events until the end of my DP World Tour season. I'm not sure what Patrick's schedule looks like coming up, but I feel like I have enough opportunities.
"And I'm going back to-golf course in India that I played for the first time last year, so I'll know it a little bit better; and then going to Abu Dhabi and Dubai where I had a lot of success in my career. Excited for the opportunity, and it would be obviously amazing to match Monty's record."
Rai, who won the US PGA Championship in May and was presented with the inaugural Rory McIlroy Award ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, climbed to fourth from seventh in the season-long rankings, with Ryan Fox a spot further back after moving up by one following a tie for sixth at Wentworth's West Course.
Elvira, who suffered a heartbreaking double-bogey finish in his bid for a first professional title, vaulted up 50 places to 35th and seal a debut appearance at the DP World Tour Play-Offs, with Scott doing likewise as he too fell just short of what would have been victory on the 25th anniversary of his event debut.
The next biggest riser on the Rankings was Filippo Celli, who made his BMW PGA Championship debut one to remember as he held a share of the 54-hole lead before a birdie-birdie finish to his final round earned him a share of sixth place.
The Italian is up to 80th, having started the week in 116th place, strengthening his chances of retaining his playing privileges on the Race to Dubai for next year and putting the DP World Tour Play-Offs in his sights.
Alejandro del Rey moved to 49th, up eight places from 57th, to enhance his chances of reaching the season-ending DP World Tour Championship for the first time.
Scotland's David Law moved inside the all-important top 100 which is required to earn a DP World Tour card for next season.
To view the Race to Dubai Rankings, click here.
