Eighteen months ago, Tommy Fleetwood was struggling so badly with his game he wanted to pull out of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. ‘I was embarrassed by my golf and scared what might happen,’ he recalled.

 

At the end of a nerve-shredding conclusion to the Race to Dubai on Sunday, the 26 year old from Southport completed his extraordinary transformation by winning the season-long competition and joining the list of European greats who adorn the Harry Vardon Trophy.

 

 

            Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood pose with their respective trophies at the European Tour's finale

 

When this particular race began last November, Fleetwood had never been inside the top ten of any edition during his career. No wonder he looked somewhat stunned and unable to fully comprehend his achievement as he contemplated his new status as the standard bearer of the European Tour

 

Spain's Rahm, winner of the Irish Open earlier this year on the European Tour, fired a final-round 67 to finish on 19-under par 269 to win the tournament.

 

Ireland's Shane Lowry shot the day's best round, a 63, to finish tied second at 270 alongside Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat (67). Masters champion Sergio Garcia (65) and South African duo of Dylan Frittelli (69) and Dean Burmester (68) were the other players tied for fourth with Rose.

 

 

                            Rose was disappointed with his finish, but delighted for Fleetwood

 

Rose made four birdies in his first seven holes, and played his first poor shot on the 12th when his approach found the greenside bunker. He made a bogey there, before finding the water with his second shot on the par-5 14th and missing a two-foot par putt on the 16th.

 

 

After two successive rounds of 65, Fleetwood failed to make headway on Sunday, and could only watch the drama unfold in the scoring tent after a two-over par 74 round.

 

"It's the biggest day of my career for sure. The emotions were difficult on me. I don't trust computers, so even when everything had finished, it was so difficult to get up or down. Then I felt for Justin a lot. He was so gracious when he came in.shows a lot about his character," said Fleetwood after accepting his trophy.

 

"The achievement of winning a year-long thing is massive and it holds a lot of respect among your peers and the players. It shows sort of the level of consistency and the amount I've improved as a player and as a person."

 

Rose was disappointed with his finish, but delighted for Fleetwood. "I just feel I went a bit flat around the turn. I had opportunities around 10 and 11 and didn't take those. I got a little bit out of my routine and a little distracted, had a poor shot on the par-5 and then it was a struggle from there on in. The shots on 13 and 14 were the undoing," he said.

 

"Tommy, I'm pleased for him. He's battled hard all year and put a good week in South Africa and had a great couple of comeback rounds this week to fight back and deserve it. He's been leading all year and it's good for him to finish it off."

 

As other players struggled down the stretch, Rahm birdied the 14th and the tough 16th to take the lead for good.

 

Day 3: Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood set for thrilling Race to Dubai climax

Day 2: Tommy Fleetwood fires a superb 65 to bounce back in Race to Dubai bid

Day 1: Justin Rose shows mettle to start well at World Tour Championship in Dubai