Stenson shoots back-to-back birdies to retain DP World Tour Championship title

Swedish golfer Henrik Stenson won by two shots in Dubai to retain his DP World Tour Championship title.

Stenson shot back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th to card a 70 and finish 16 under par. His Ryder Cup teammates Rory McIlroy, Victor Dubuisson and Justin Rose were tied for second place on 14 under.

Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello started the day as joint leader with Stenson but successive double bogeys on the 16th and 17th saw his challenge fade, The BBC reported.

The Swede had struggled on the back nine, hitting his tee shot out of bounds on the 11th to gift his playing partner Cabrera-Bello a two-shot lead. But as the Spaniard collapsed twice hitting the water, Stenson hit a brilliant tee shot on the 17th for a tap-in birdie to reclaim the outright lead.

Stenson said that it feels great, and added that he is exhausted to say the least. He said that it was hot out there and tricky on the back nine, adding that he did not play his best and had a shocking hole on 11 which knocked him back, but admitted that he did not give up.

Stenson said that he had a couple of close calls this year to get his win and it was not to be. He added that it's been close but eventually one gets something if one sticks around and he surely did that.

Northern Ireland's world number one McIlroy and Englishman Rose both missed birdie putts on the 18th, finishing joint second with France's Dubuisson.

McIlroy said that it seemed like no one took it by the scruff of the neck and he thought if he could post 16 under he might have a chance. He admitted that he just did not play well enough to win this week.

The win means Stenson stays in second place in the Race to Dubai standings behind McIlroy, who had already made sure of the title a week ago as no challengers can catch him, the report added.