Rory McIlroy had to overcome a fierce battle with Andy Sullivan at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Sunday to win the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and with it a third Race to Dubai title.
Here, we take a look at what the Northern Irishman had to say after successfully defending his European crown.
On winning The Race to Dubai
"To be European Number One for the third time in four years, that was a goal of mine at the start of the year. It was a goal of mine in the middle of the year and it was definitely a goal coming into these last few weeks."
On his final round
"I knew today wasn't going to be easy. Andy was playing phenomenal golf over the first three days and from what little I saw on TV, it didn't look like he was missing many putts. It certainly wasn't that way on the front nine. So even though I had played well and really did what I wanted to, I turned in three under par and I wasn't really making up much ground.
"Then the birdie on 12 was huge to tie the lead, and then the two birdies on 14 and 15, when he didn't make them, that gave me a nice little cushion going into the last three holes, which I needed.
"I think the turning point was really 14 and 15. And that putt on 17, just to give myself just a little bit of cushion. I guess if I had of been tied playing the last, I would have backed myself with my length, but giving myself that one shot cushion going up the last made a huge difference. Thankfully I rolled that putt in on 17.
"Andy had a couple of chances to make a couple of birdies and didn't quite convert, and I was able to just hang on. I've played really good golf this week. A 13 under par weekend, I couldn't think of a better way to finish the season.
"So I'm really happy going into the Christmas break and looking forward to what's in store for 2016."
On that tee shot on the 17th
"It was 40 yards off line. It was just a horrendous golf shot.
"Actually (caddie) JP said to me: 'Just think of it, you're all-square. You're all-square, you get up-and-down for bogey'.
"That was really how I thought of it, and just those little words that he said to me walking up to the drop zone, it helped, because even though I had a two-shot lead at that point I was, in my mind, all-square when I hit my approach shot on to the green.
"I didn't like the golf shot and I wasn't very happy with myself, but I was able to get over it quick enough to hole the putt."
On his recovery from an ankle injury
"I think I'm right there. The only thing that's been holding me back over the past few weeks was my putting. My ball-striking's right where I want it to be. So I think I'm right there.
"I just want to get as strong and as healthy as possible going into next year, and just keep on top of the things that I'm doing well and keep trying to chip away at the things I want to do a little bit better.
"But I think all aspects of my game are in good shape now, and I think if my game is in this shape going into next year, I'd be very happy and feel like I could do very well."
On next season and the Masters Tournament
"I think every time you go to Augusta, there's a lot of hype. There was a lot of hype around myself this year.
"And next year, the narrative might be around three guys, myself going for the Grand Slam again. It's always going to be there until I get to put a Green Jacket on my back. It's obviously the first real goal of the year is to try and get ready for the Masters and be in as good of shape as possible going in there.
"But I felt like I dealt with everything really well this year. I played well, I competed well. If anything held me back again at Augusta it was my putting. I finished fourth. Some years, 12 or 14 under par, that could have been good enough to win, but Jordan (Spieth) obviously just played much better than everyone else that week."
On Andy Sullivan
"I knew Andy was a great player. You don't win three times in a season and not be a great player.
"I witnessed first-hand how good Andy is in the first two rounds of the Desert Classic this year. We played together and he really impressed me.
"He flights the ball really well. He hits it left-to-right, right-to-left. He's got all the shots. He obviously putts very well.
"Any time I've played with Andy, I have been very impressed.
"To battle the way I had to out there today is testament to how good he is and how much he has improved.
"I know one of his big goals next year is to make The Ryder Cup team and he would be a great asset for Europe to have in the team."
