Triumphant Stenson looks forward to rest after massive year

Stenson became the first man to win the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour in the same year thanks to a commanding six-shot victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The 37-year-old carded a flawless closing 64, signing off in style with a tap-in eagle on the 18th, to finish with a tournament-record total of 25 under par, with money list rival Ian Poulter a valiant second following a 66.

France’s Victor Dubuisson was two shots further back in third, with Holland’s Joost Luiten fourth and a trio of former world No 1s – Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood – sharing fifth.

“It has been an incredible summer for me, the (autumn) in America was great and now this,” said Stenson, who was second in the Open and third in the US PGA Championship before his FedEx Cup triumph.

“It has been a dream season.

“I played so well this week. I knew the guys would try to catch me, especially Ian who never gives up. I wanted to stay ahead of him and I managed to do that.

“I don’t know how I am going to be able to top this next year but I am going to give my best in the majors and that (becoming the first male Swedish player to win one) would be the icing on the cake.”

Stenson also had the added satisfaction of winning 100 dollars from Poulter after keeping the Englishman behind him on the money list, with Poulter also having to act as his waiter for the evening.

“You should stop when you’re ahead so he’s not getting another bet,” joked Stenson. “I can’t stand that much pressure for 100 dollars. I haven’t had the money yet but I’ll have a photographer with me when I do.”

Stenson won his first European Tour title in 2001 but then went through the first of two career slumps, the second coming in 2011 and leaving him 230th in the world rankings at the start of last year.

He also lost a reported seven-figure sum in disgraced financier Allen Stanford’s Ponzi scheme in 2009, just months after the biggest victory of his career to date in the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Add in some serious health problems – one caused by a parasite infection he contracted while on holiday – and Stenson’s form in 2013 is all the more remarkable, with a share of third place in the Scottish Open followed up by runners-up finishes in the Open and WGC Bridgestone Invitational and third place in the US PGA Championship in a five-week spell.

He then won the second FedEx Cup play-off event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, to move to the top of the standings, and although Tiger Woods regained top spot as Stenson finished 33rd in the BMW Championship in Chicago, as one of the top five heading into Atlanta Stenson’s destiny was firmly in his own hands.

Those hands had snapped his driver on the final hole at Conway Farms in frustration at a closing 74, while he also damaged his locker and was forced to “apologise to the appropriate parties” and pay for the damage according to his agent.

But just six days later the popular Swede – who was struggling badly with tendinitis in his wrist earlier in the week – had his hands on two trophies and an eight-figure payday for a wire-to-wire triumph.

“I am in desperate need of some rest,” admitted the Swede. “I don’t want to jeopardise anything long term so I’m going to give it some rest.”