JUSTIN Rose is up to a career-high number fourth in golf’s world rankings after finishing second at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

The north Hampshire golfer carded a course record round of 62 (-10) on the final day of the tournament in Dubai, a score that put him on course for the win until Rory McIlroy birdied the final five holes to claim victory by two shots.

The result leaves Rose second in the European Tour’s final Race to Dubai standings, while he is up to number four in the world, his best ever ranking.

The former Robert May’s School pupil has finished in the top 10 at 13 tournaments this season and claimed his first victory at a World Golf Championship event by winning the Cadillac Championship. A major title still eludes him, but the 32-year-old believes he is getting closer all the time.

“This has been my most consistent year ever,” he said. “I’ve had 13 top 10s and I’ve won and WGC. If you look at that progression in terms of events I’ve been able to win, it leads you to a major.

“It doesn’t mean a major is going to happen and it doesn’t mean I’m solely focused on a major but I still think I can become a prolific winner. I definitely want to be fully prepared for the majors next year.”

Rose will begin his 2013 season next week, when he will travel to Sydney for the Australian Open.