Henrik Stenson hailed a “dream season” as he claimed a historic double in fitting fashion by storming to victory in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Stenson became the first man to win the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour in the same year thanks to a commanding six-shot victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The 37-year-old carded a flawless closing 64, signing off in style with a tap-in eagle on the 18th, to finish with a tournament-record total of 25 under par, with money list rival Ian Poulter a valiant second following a 66.
France’s Victor Dubuisson was two shots further back in third, with Holland’s Joost Luiten fourth and a trio of former world number ones Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood sharing fifth.
“It has been an incredible summer for me the (autumn) in America was great and now this,” said Stenson, who was second in the Open and third in the US PGA Championship before his FedEx Cup triumph.
“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.
“I don’t know how I am going to be able to top this next year but I am going to give my best in the majors and that (becoming the first male Swedish player to win one) would be the icing on the cake.”
Stenson also had the added satisfaction of winning $100 from Poulter after keeping the Englishman behind him on the money list, with Poulter also having to act as his waiter for the evening.
Poulter, who was one of the first to congratulate Stenson after waving a white towel in surrender on the 18th, said: “I have to take my hat off to him, unbelievable. I tried to run him down as hard as I could but even with a sore wrist he has pressed on and I just could not get close enough.
“Henrik has not made a mistake all week and I just had to make sure of second place and some valuable Ryder Cup points. I have thrown a lot at him and given him so much stick, but he is the best player on the planet right now.”
Stenson won his first European Tour title in 2001 but then went through the first of two career slumps, the second coming in 2011 and leaving him 230th in the world rankings at the start of last year.
He also lost a reported seven-figure sum in disgraced financier Allen Stanford’s Ponzi scheme in 2009, just months after the biggest victory of his career to date in the Players Championship at Sawgrass.
Add in some serious health problems one caused by a parasite infection he contracted while on holiday and Stenson’s form in 2013 is all the more remarkable, with a share of third place in the Scottish Open followed up by runners-up finishes in the Open and WGC Bridgestone Invitational and third place in the US PGA Championship in a five-week spell.
He then won the second FedEx Cup play-off event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, to move to the top of the standings,
A second round of 64 gave Stenson a one-shot lead he maintained thanks to a 67 on Saturday, while three birdies in the first five holes of the final round meant the result was never in doubt, despite being on anti-inflammatory tablets all week due to his wrist problem.
Scott Jamieson was the leading Scot after a 69 saw him finish six under for the tournament four head of Stephen Gallacher, who carded a closing round of 68.
Craig Lee left disappointed after his 75 saw him end on one over, three shots ahead of fellow Scot Marc Warren.