Rory McIlroy capped a great year by winning the Race to Dubai for the second time in three years yesterday without hitting a shot when his friend Brooks Koepka won the Turkish Airlines Open.
Marcel Siem, Jamie Donaldson or Sergio Garcia had needed to win in Antalya and at next week's DP World Tour Championship to have a chance of overtaking McIlroy on the money list.
Although Siem started the final round just one shot off the lead, the BMW Masters winner could only card a closing 71 to finish joint eighth, with Donaldson 19th and Garcia 25th.
McIlroy, who won his first WGC event in between his two major titles, said: "This has obviously been the best season of my career by a long way, and to win the Race to Dubai for the second time really is something truly special.
"That four-week spell over the summer, from the Open to the US PGA Championship, would have to be the best golf of my life, so I feel like I've really earned the Race to Dubai.
"Winning it for the first time two years ago was a fantastic feeling, but I feel like I'm now a more complete player and my all-round game has moved to another level. I've put in a lot of hard work this season, with my game and my fitness, so it's nice to get the rewards at the end of it.
"In some ways the pressure is off next week, but I'll fight very hard to end the year on a high with another victory. Finishing with five birdies to win the DP World Tour Championship in 2012 is right up there with my best performances on the European Tour, so every time I go back to Jumeirah Golf Estates it always brings back some happy memories.
"If I can notch up another win it really will complete an amazing year. I'm feeling that competitive edge again."
In Hainan, England's Charley Hull had to settle for second place yesterday behind fellow teenager Xi Yu Lin, of China, in the Sanya Ladies' Open.
Hull carded a final round of 69 at Yalong Bay Golf Club, but saw 18-year-old rising star Lin recover from an early bogey with four birdies and an eagle in a closing 67 to win by five shots on 202.
"It was a good day and I'm happy with how I'm playing," said Hull, who is also 18. "It was windy out there again today. I nearly holed so many long putts, but they were all on the edge."
Pamela Pretswell was the leading Scot in a share of 19th place after shooting a 73 for 213, five shots ahead of Kylie Walker, who signed off with a 71. Vikki Laing and Sally Watson failed to make the cut.
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