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The race is run and as the sun sets on a remarkable season for European golf, Germany's Martin Kaymer was crowned the winner of the second edition of the European Tour's Race to Dubai, while Robert Karlsson defeated Ian Poulter in a play-off to triumph in the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
Kaymer was confirmed as the new European number one with one hole of his final round in Dubai remaining, as Graeme McDowell signed for a closing 68 to eventually end in a tie for 13th at six-under.
McDowell needed a top-three finish this week to have any chance of overhauling the German, but was unable to do so as the 25-year-old from DŸsseldorf became the youngest winner of the money-list crown since Ronan Rafferty in 1989.
Kaymer actually finished alongside McDowell at six-under after a final round of 72 but that was more than enough to earn him a staggering bonus of £932,024 (BD545,082) from a £4.6 million pool that rewards the leading 15 money-winners.
The young German is only the second player from his country to finish as Europe's number one following his great idol Bernhard Langer in 1981 and 1984 and becomes the 17th player to top the Order of Merit since the tours first season in 1972.
It completes a remarkable rise to the upper echelons of the game for Kaymer, since being crowned Rookie of the Year in his debut season in 2007; 2010 will be a difficult one to top.
His four victories, including his first Major at the USPGA Championship fast-tracked his rise up to the lofty position of world No. 3 and I'm sure his goals for 2011 already include wrestling the coveted number one spot off his Ryder Cup Team mate Lee Westwood; a certain Mr T Woods may also have something to say about that!
Meanwhile, Karlsson picked up the tournament's £775,000 winner's cheque in Dubai, and an 11th European Tour title of his career, as he beat Poulter at the second extra hole after the pair had finished locked together at 14-under. Poulter had led all the way down the stretch before the Swede reeled him in with a birdie at the last to force a play-off.
World No. 1 and defending champion Westwood had made a late charge but a watery grave at the last consigned him to second place, ultimately a cold putter and possibly a lack of match sharpness costing him the title.
The event ended in disappointing and slightly controversial circumstances for the Englishman as, having halved the first extra hole, he was given a one-shot penalty on the second after he dropped his ball on his marker causing the coin to move position on the green.
That ensured Karlsson had two putts from close range to wrap up victory and he duly holed out for his second success of the season.
The second edition of the Race to Dubai has been amazing and a triumph for European golf. This year will end with more Europeans in the World Top Ten than Americans for the first time since the rankings began; not only this, but the queue just outside the top ten places is getting longer.
Who knows what the third instalment of the Race to Dubai will bring in 2011 - more of the same would do just about right!
