Thriston Lawrence is the only player who can prevent McIlroy topping the money list for the third year running by winning the DP World Tour Championship, and even that will not be enough if McIlroy finishes 11th or better in the 50-man field in Dubai.
Equalling the tally of Ballesteros and edging closer to Colin Montgomerie's record of eight titles would be a fitting reward for a season which has seen McIlroy win three times and record nine other top 10s, but missing out on an overdue fifth major title in June remains a painful memory.
McIlroy looked set to win his first major since 2014 at Pinehurst, but bogeyed three of the last four holes to finish a shot behind Bryson DeChambeau.
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