Lee Westwood is back as Europe's number one - and £1.6million richer as well - after becoming the inaugural winner of the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

The 36-year-old, two ahead overnight and five clear of money list leader Rory McIlroy, produced a sizzling closing 64 - the lowest round of the week - to win by six from fellow Englishman Ross McGowan.

McIlroy finished third after a 67, but it was never going to be enough to keep hold of his Order of Merit advantage.

Westwood earned £744,180 for winning the tournament and a further £893,016 from a bonus pool for the top 15 on the inaugural Race to Dubai.

McGowan took second place worth almost £500,000, but not surprisingly it was McIlroy whose disappointment at just missing out was felt most deeply.

It even boiled over on the the seventh hole when, having seen that Westwood had turned it into a one-man show with a flying start, he smashed a club into an advertising hoarding and had to pull it out.

That will almost certainly lead to a fine - Swede Henrik Stenson had to pay £500 for breaking a tee marker at The Open two years ago - but he was able to smile about it afterwards.

And he was soon reflecting on what was a superb attempt to become the youngest Tour number one since Seve Ballesteros at 19 in 1976.

"Lee deserves it," said the Northern Ireland star, who also just misses out on entering the world's top 10 for the first time.

Second place would have given him that, but it was still a pay-day of nearly £960,000 - £290,230 for third spot and £669,762 from the bonus pool.