DRIVING through miles of scraped away desert, sand whirling across the tarmac, it was difficult to see where the golf course was going to appear from.

Then it was there, like a shimmering green mirage, an oasis of colour in a dusty land.

On an overcast, blustery day, it was Henrik Stenson, of course, who came out on top to win both the World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai, and anyone who has been watching golf during his spectacular last few months will not have been surprised. For a while, though, with Victor Dubuisson desperately clinging to his heels and Ian Poulter always capable of a bit of crazy, random magic, it seemed things might have been closer.

They were soon running out of time, though, and Stenson was in no mood to fold. Three slightly deranged Swedish supporters held a banner alongside the 13th tee saying "Let's go, Stenson!" long before their man came into view. They eventually spun round to the 12th green, where their hero was suitably inspired to strike the killer blow - he later said it was close to his shot of the year - launching his approach to a foot from the pin. Dubuisson could only smack his ball down the left edge of the green, where a misplayed pitch left him with a bogey and five shots adrift.

As Arabian dignitaries walked out for the presentation ceremony - Stenson had just produced one last moment of brilliance, killing his second shot to within inches of the 18th hole to set up an eagle - they were informed by a European Tour official that "One of the best footballers in the world just walked past," pointing to Michael Carrick. "Are you a Manchester United fan?"

"Arsenal," a Sheikh replied, firmly. Well, we are in the Emirates.

Then, amid the all the glitz, celebrities and opulence, it was left to Craig Reedie, incoming WADA president, concedes the organisation needs more money. Dougie Donnelly - who else? - to interview the champion.

"It takes a little time to sink in," Stenson said later. "I've managed to achieve something very special here this week, winning both in America [the FedEx Cup] and the Race to Dubai, the double double [the Tour Championship and World Tour Championship] . . . it's going to take some beating in the future."

Stenson also had the added satisfaction of winning $100 from Poulter after keeping the Englishman behind him on the money list.

"You should stop when you're ahead so he's not getting another bet," joked Stenson. "I can't stand that much pressure for $100."

Poulter, who was one of the first to congratulate Stenson after waving a white towel in surrender beside the 18th green, 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.

"I have thrown a lot at him and given him so much stick, but he is the best player on the planet right now."

Earlier, Stephen Gallacher - so far back he teed off in the second last group - produced a six-under-par 66 to climb to three under. The leading Scot in 19th place on the Race to Dubai, Gallacher is assured of a place in next year's Open Championship and a start in March's $8m WGC-Cadillac Championship in Florida.

Birdies at his first four holes set up a 66 for a share of 34th place and the Bathgate pro headed straight for Dubai Airport and a 13-hour flight to Melbourne, where he will team up with Martin Laird to represent Scotland in the World Cup of Golf, which starts on Thursday.

"I am in good spirits for it; it's amazing how quickly you can turn this game around," he said. "I didn't play that badly over the first three days but I just hit a lot of better iron shots today."

Scott Jamieson, strolling up the last and fresh from two birdies in three holes, thumped his long second on to the green to set up a closing eagle. His finish secured a 69, catapulting him up to six under and a comfortable lead as top-placed Scot.

"It was a good way to finish the year because I haven't been at my best over the last two weeks," he said. "I am really excited about what happened this year, though; I feel I have made real progress. I have my first win, played in a WGC [World Golf Championship event] and two majors. My main goal was to finish inside the top 30 on the money list and its looks like I have missed it by a spot, but I did get very close to it."

In fact, he ended only his third full season on Tour in 31st place and just €3109 short of qualifying automatically for the 143rd Open Championship at Hoylake.

He came in just after Craig Lee, whose finish followed an opposite trajectory, slipping from a decent position at five under after six holes. After bogeys on eight and nine, he steadied the ship before it miserably sunk in the last three holes. Having only scraped into the tournament last week in Turkey, Lee could afford to be relaxed, though, after enjoying four days feasting at the European Tour's top table for the first time.

He found the second half of the course tough all week, strong starts undermined by late slip-ups. "I've struggled on the back nine," he admitted. "The energy levels just aren't where they should be. Whether that's the heat or the diet's not been right this week, I'm not sure. But I've played some nice golf and we'll take that and move forward to next week."

Lee then headed for the airport and a Johannesburg-bound flight for this week's opening event of the 2014 Race to Dubai schedule, the South African Open, having finished his 2013 season down one place to 59th.

Fellow Glaswegian Marc Warren could not break 70 over the four days - he had a last-round 74 for a share of 52nd place on four over par - but ended his year in a career-best 33rd spot on the Race to Dubai.