• Tour Championship

Stenson defends Tour Championship title

Henrik Stenson shot a final round of 2-under par at Jumeirah Golf Estates © Getty Images

Enlarge

Henrik Stenson has successfully defended his Tour Championship title at the European Tour's season-ending event.

Stenson shot a final round 2-under 70 on Sunday to win by two strokes with an overall 16-under 272 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

Although he admitted he was not on top form throughout the tournament, late birdies on the 17th and 18th holes sealed victory for the Swede.

"It felt great," Stenson said. "I did not play my best and had a shocking hole on 11 which knocked me back, but I did not give up. I just had to dig in there and wait for something to happen.

"I had a couple of close calls this year to get my win and it was not to be. It has been close but eventually you get something if you stick around and I surely did that."

Three of Stenson's team-mates on Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team - Rory McIlroy (68), Victor Dubuisson (68) and Justin Rose (69) - shared second on 14-under 274. The victory means Stenson finishes second to McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.

World No.1 McIlroy conceded he did not play well enough to win but remained encouraged by his final standing.

"It seemed like no-one took it by the scruff of the neck," he said. "If I had won playing like that, it would have been a surprise. And that's a really big positive, not just going into next year but going into the rest of my career.

"Because in seasons gone by, a bad week for me would have resulted in finishing in the middle of the pack and not in contention like this week. That consistency in results is something I've really been pleased with this season. Yet all credit to Henrik. He deserved it."

Rafa Cabrera-Bello (75) was leading with three holes to play but the Spaniard tumbled down the board with back-to-back double bogeys at Nos.16 and 17 to finish tied for ninth with an overall 277.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd