The Englishman claimed an emphatic six-stroke victory in the inaugural DP World Tour Championship, then known as the Dubai World Championship, to end the season as European No.1 for the second time.
“It’s as good as I’ve ever played, especially under this pressure. It gives me so much confidence and it’s definitely the biggest moment of my career.”
The Swede was crowned champion after sinking back-to-back birdies against Ian Poulter to win a dramatic play-off over the Earth course. It remains the only time the tournament has gone to extra holes.
“It’s a fantastic field and obviously when we have all of the best players in Europe together, the way it looks now, it’s going to be a great field. So, to win here is fantastic.”
The Spaniard holed a monster eagle putt on the 72nd hole to add the DP World Tour Championship crown to his Dubai Desert Classic title he won earlier in the season.
“I was trying to enjoy the moment, and fight until the end. At least if you don’t win the title, you’re going to be close, and that’s something positive.”
A rampant McIlroy went on a birdie blitz coming home on the Earth course as he picked up five consecutive shots on his last five holes to seal a fifth European Tour win.
“Coming here with the European Tour’s Race to Dubai wrapped up, I wanted to win the tournament trophy too and that’s what I’ve done. It’s a great way to finish a great season.”
Stenson became the first man to win the Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup in the same year with a stunning six-shot victory over Ian Poulter at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“It has been a dream season. I played so well this week. I knew the guys would try to catch me, especially Ian who never gives up. I wanted to stay ahead of him and I managed to do that.”
The Swede retained his title the year thanks to back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to win by two strokes from Rory McIlroy, Victor Dubuisson and Justin Rose.
“I had a couple of close calls this year to get my win and it was not to be. It’s been close but eventually you get something if you stick around and I surely did that.”
The Northern Irishman collected a second DP World Tour Championship and a third Race to Dubai title in four years after securing a one-stroke victory over Andy Sullivan in the European Tour finale.
“To be European No. 1 for the third time in four years, that was a goal of mine at the start of the year. It was a goal of mine in the middle of the year and it was definitely a goal coming into these last few weeks.”
The Englishman picked up his first DP World Tour Championship trophy in 2016 after playing a spectacular shot from a greenside bunker at the last before sinking a breaking putt from four feet for a one-stroke triumph over Tyrrell Hatton.
“This gives me confidence to push even further and further. Everything has just happened so fast. The 18th green was the most nervous I’ve been over a four-foot putt, ever, in my career. You need to pull it off and fortunately, so far so good. It won’t always work out that way.”
The big-hitting Spaniard, who was named Rookie of the Year before the tournament, picked up a second Rolex Series event of the season in Dubai after winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open earlier in the year.
“When you accomplish something in life, it’s always a great feeling. When you do something that you had in mind but wasn’t a goal for the end of the year, you accomplished something that was years down the road, is just such an incredible feeling.”
The Englishman ended a 953 day trophy drought in thrilling fashion with a two-stroke victory after superbly saving par at the 72nd hole, where his ball had made its way to the edge of the wadi.
“Winning’s a rarity on tour, really. I’m pleased to have won the tournaments that I’ve won over the last few years. But this, coming back after everything that’s happened, is going to go down in the history books for myself as one of the most pleasing.’’
Jon Rahm birdied the final hole to win the tournament by one stroke from Tommy Fleetwood, and in doing so, became the first Spaniard to win the Race to Dubai title after Seve Ballesteros.
“Seve was such an idol for us. To put my name there, it’s hard to believe. I can’t believe some of the things I have accomplished.”
In a year where fans weren’t allowed to attend for the first time due to the covid-19 pandemic, Fitzpatrick secured a second win at the event with a one-shot triumph over Race to Dubai champion Lee Westwood.
“You can play poorly and win and sometimes you can play amazing and lose. To me, this is a week in all honesty I felt I’m playing really well and I managed to convert it.”
