Race to Dubai: Francesco Molinari caps perfect season with European Tour win

Francesco Molinari has capped a stunning season by winning the European Tour's Race to Dubai.

Italian Molinari, who won his maiden major title in the Open at Carnoustie and became the first European player to compile a perfect 5-0 record in the Ryder Cup, was confirmed as European number one during the final round of the DP World Tour Championship.

The 36-year-old's Ryder Cup partner Tommy Fleetwood had to win the season-ending event to overhaul Molinari, but a closing 68 left Fleetwood on 10 under par, with Xander Schauffele already in the clubhouse on the same score.

Molinari and Fleetwood became the first European pair to win all four of their matches together in September's victory at Le Golf National and the "Moliwood" pair embraced on the clubhouse steps once Molinari's success was confirmed.

"Incredible, incredible," Molinari said. "You know, now I'm going to have time to sit down and relax and really think back about the last few months.

"This morning on the first tee, the announcement is the winner of the Open Championship, Race to Dubai leader - it doesn't sound real at the moment.

"I'm really struggling for words. It's more than I ever dreamed of achieving. I've seen guys that I think are better players than me not winning majors and not winning Order of Merits or Race to Dubai. To achieve those things, you know, in one single season, is just incredible."