Rory McIlroy ended the year as Europe’s number one despite Spaniard Jon Rahm winning a third DP world title in Dubai on Sunday.
Rahm went under 67 on the final day to finish with under 20, two ahead of England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Sweden’s Alex Noren.
World number one McIlroy was a shot in fourth after a four under 68.
“It’s been a long time since I lifted this trophy,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.
“It’s been seven years and I feel as good as I can remember.”
The Northern Irishman, who started the final round with an under-12 after securing a record under-65 on Saturday, lifted the Harry Vardon Trophy for the fourth time in his career.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, McIlroy’s only rival for the top spot in the DP World Tour standings, was 14 under ahead of Sunday but hit a double bogey and three bogeys to end his chances of finishing the season as number one in Europe.
To dominate the leaderboard, Winner of the US Open in June Fitzpatrick would have needed to win and McIlroy to finish second, or if Fitzpatrick had finished second he would have required McIlroy to be outside the top seven.
McIlroy also becomes the second player to win the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai titles in the same season following Henrik Stenson in 2013 who won the PGA Tour top prize in August.
McIlroy congratulated Rahm, who won his ninth DP World Tour title and became the first player to win the tournament three times at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“It would have been nice to get a win there at the end of the year, but Jon played an amazing tournament and fully deserved it,” McIlroy said.
“I would like to say I’m among the best players in the world – but he’s right up there with me.”
