Henrik Stenson, the Open champion, believes it will be one of the best achievements of his career if he can finish a memorable season as European No 1 for the second time.
Stenson claimed his first major title in record-breaking fashion at Royal Troon in July, equalling the lowest score in major history in the final round to edge out Phil Mickelson in a thrilling duel.
Another head-to-head battle saw Stenson win a silver medal behind Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose in Rio as golf returned to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years.
But the 40-year-old Swede insists winning a second Race to Dubai crown will rank among those historic successes if he can hold off rivals Danny Willett, Alex Noren and Rory McIlroy.
"It would be one of my finest achievements," Stenson said ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. "It was pretty sweet to be here as Europe's number one in 2013 and I don't think it would be any less sweet being here as number one in 2016 with the season that I've had.
"I'm certainly keen. I'm going to give it my best; we all have a long season behind us and this is the final stretch, four rounds of golf.
"I'm going to give it my best and whether I play great or good or average or whatever it might be, I'm going to try my hardest for four days.”
Whatever happens in Dubai, Stenson will have another important task to focus on before the end of the year as the players' representative on the selection panel choosing Europe's next Ryder Cup captain.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley, past captains Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal will join Stenson in choosing Clarke's successor following the 17-11 defeat at Hazeltine.
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn is odds-on favourite to lead the team in Paris in 2018, with Stenson admitting he would like the role himself in the future.
"Of course that would be a great honour and something that would be a lot of fun," he added. "It's also a lot of work, as I've seen closely from some of my older colleagues that have been taking on that role.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, but I'm pretty certain I wouldn't turn it down if I had the offer in the future."
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