McIlroy cedes crown as Stenson lives his dream

It was like a final insult in what was Rory McIlroy’s final event as the defending European No. 1 — being asked to tape a TV piece congratulating Henrik Stenson on succeeding him in winning the Race to Dubai.

In an alcohol-restrained UAE, Stenson was showered with sparkling water by his fellow pros. The Swede created history becoming the first golfer ever to win the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and European Tour’s Race to Dubai in the same season.

He posted a final round eight under par 64 that included an eagle at the last to capture the year-ending DP World Tour Championship by six shots with a 25-under-par victory tally on the Earth Course at the Jumeriah Estates course.