Henrik Stenson's second straight DP World Tour Championship victory secured the Swede not only second place on the Race to Dubai but also a return to No.2 in the world rankings.
Stenson birdied his closing two holes in a final round 70 for a 16-under par tally and slam the door shut on Ryder Cup colleagues Rory McIlroy (68), Justin Rose (69) and Victor Dubuisson (68) on the Earth Course at Jumeriah Estate.
McIlroy had kick-started his quest for a sixth title this year with a first-round 66 but played the last three rounds in just eight under as he prepared to head for Thursday's start to the defence of his Australian Open title in Sydney.
"I never expected 14-under par would have the remotest chance of winning this golf tournament," said McIlroy. "It just seemed like no-one really took the tournament by the scruff of the neck and went with it.
"But then I didn't play well enough to win this week, and if I had won by playing like this, it would have been a bit of a surprise."
Stephen Gallacher ended his 18th Tour season 16th in the Race to Dubai and just one spot shy of matching a career high of 15th in 2004, signing off for a 71 and a share of 31st place at six under. "It's been a great season and my best ever," he said. "I won out here in Dubai earlier in the year had seven other top 10s and played in a winning Ryder Cup team, so it doesn't come better than that."
Gallacher has only a few days off before heading to Sun City for the $6.5m Nedbank Challenge and the first event of the 2015 Tour season.
Richie Ramsay capped his round of 68 by birdieing three of his closing four holes and none better than the last when he played a Phil Mickelson like flop that nearly found the bottom of the but before then holing the five footer. "What an up-and-down that was on 18 because there was water at the back of the green and it landed just perfect," he said.
"But then I just threw darts all day at the greens although I was one over par after four holes and thinking to myself that I haven't hit a bad shot. I then had birdies on seven and 10 and then started missing other chances before they started to drop.
"So if I had the putting boots on today it could have been probably more towards eight under than four under, but then to finish the way I did was really pleasing."
Ramsay left the course for a share of 16th place on nine under par but only managed to pick up two Race to Dubai spots to end the season 43rd.
Ramsay will now take a near 10-week break from the game before returning to competition for the 10th anniversary Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the start of his sixth full season on the Tour. "It's good to put a good effort like this week into the suitcase and take with my now into my winter break," he said. "Nine under is my best effort here which has been an improvement without playing anywhere near my 'A' game."
Marc Warren also secured a place into next year's Open Championship at St Andrews, ending his season 26th on the Race to Dubai and inside the leading 30. Warren, playing the final round in the company of McIlroy, posted a 73 for a share of 21st spot.
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