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Rory McIlroy described it as a “great feeling” to win The Race to Dubai for the second time in three years.
The Northern Irishman had already been confirmed as European Number One before his runner-up finish at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai courtesy of a remarkable summer.
Having won The European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship in May, McIlroy went on to add The Open Championship and US PGA Championship either side of a first World Golf Championships victory at the Bridgestone Invitational.
“It's a great feeling to know that I've played the best golf throughout the season of any of the guys for the second time in three years, it's really nice,” said McIlroy, who finished two shots behind Henrik Stenson at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“I never expected 14 under to have a remote chance of winning this golf tournament.
“It just seemed like no one really took the tournament by the scruff of the neck and went with it. The two guys, Rafa and Henrik, were on 16 for quite a while, and sort of stayed there.
“I saw Rafa went back to 15 under as I birdied 15 to get to 14 under and I thought if I could post 16, I might have a chance. 16 would have been good enough for a play-off in the end.
“I just didn't play well enough to win this week, and if I had of won by playing like that, it would have been a bit of a surprise.
“A lot of positives heading into 2015 and something I'm really pleased about this year is that consistency that I've shown in my golf. I haven't finished outside the top 25. My last few results have been very consistent, very good, and a lot of good stuff going into next year.
“I feel like, as you said, this year has been full of up-and-downs, mainly ups, which is a great thing.
“I learned a lot from it and I feel like I came through this year stronger and wiser, and I can go into 2015 in a much better place.
“I'm happy with the success that I've had, and I feel like there's been a lot that I've learned this year, as well, and that's a great thing going into the future.”
