The new European No1 Rory McIlroy came close to achieving his objective of winning both the Race to Dubai and the DP World Tour Championship trophies on Sunday, before finishing second in the tournament by two shots.
McIlroy, who had already won the Race to Dubai crown before the start of the week by having an insurmountable lead at the top, shot a bogey-free four-under par 68 yesterday to finish at 14-under par 274.
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But the world No1 admitted he would have been surprised if he had won the tournament.
“It could have been different. But at the same time, I never expected 14‑under to have a remote chance of winning this golf tournament,” said McIlroy, who made back-to-back double bogeys during the third round on Saturday.
“It just seemed like no one really took the tournament by the scruff of the neck and went with it.
“The two guys, Rafa and Henrik, were on 16-under for quite a while, and sort of stayed there.
“I saw Rafa had went back to 15 as I birdied the 15th to get to 14‑under and I thought if I could post 16, I might have a chance.
“That would have been good enough for a playoff in the end. “But I just didn’t play well enough to win this week, and if I had of won by playing like that, it would have been a bit of a surprise.”
McIlroy was pleased with the fact that, despite not playing at his best level, he could still put together a decent finish.
“It’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 been middle of the pack or if there was a cut, maybe battling to make the cut,” said McIlroy.
“Now it’s okay, The level of consistency is there.
“I didn’t feel like I played great at all today, and still went around bogey‑free, shot 68. It’s not too bad.
“Something I’m really pleased about this year is that consistency that I’ve shown in my golf.
Not the week I wanted, unfortunately you can’t win with your C game but proud of how I competed until the end. Congrats to @henrikstenson
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) November 23, 2014
“I haven’t finished outside the top‑25. My last few results have been very consistent, very good.” McIlroy could not make the most of a lucky break on the 18th hole, when his ball looked like heading for the creak that splits the fairway, but hit a rock and bounced out and ahead by another 50 yards.
“It was very lucky. It was going in the water, hit a rock and didn’t go in,” he added.
“But I didn’t make a birdie and I probably wouldn’t have made bir-die, anyway, if it had of been in the water.
“I sort of got what I deserved there on the last.”
McIlroy next heads off to Australia to defend the Emirates Australian Open.
