The 35-year-old golfer recently landed his sixth win at the tournament and he admitted he is “very proud” to have put himself on a par with the late Spaniard, who died in 2011 after battling a brain tumour.

Asked about equalling the record, Rory told Golf Monthly magazine: “It’s really cool. I think everyone knows what Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup players.

“In the European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes of Seve.

“We had a changing room with Seve’s shirt from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played.

“He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”

Rory now has his sights set on beating Colin Montgomerie’s record of eight Order of Merit titles, having got six in the bag.

He said: “I’m up for it. I’ve just won my third in a row and I’ve really made it a priority of my schedule over the last few years to give myself the best chance of coming into the end of the year to win the Race to Dubai.

“I don’t see that being any different for the foreseeable future. I’m going to go for my seventh next year and try to chase Monty down.”