Paul Casey put the disappointment of missing out on the European Tour Order of Merit title last season behind him by carding a superb final-round seven-under-par 65 to capture the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
Casey began the morning in fourth place but produced a fine display in the hot weather to storm up the leaderboard and finished with a 17-under-par 271 overall.
The 2006 golfer of the year made eight birdies and though a bogey on the 18th, when he failed to make a relatively simple putt, looked to have given Miguel Angel Jimenez the chance of a play-off, the Spaniard failed to find the required birdie on the last to deny Casey the trophy and the £170,000 prize.
Jimenez would have been in a more comfortable position going onto the 18th but for a disappointing bogey on the hole before.
"I had a very good chance but I hit a very bad shot at the 17th," he said, "I missed the shot and there is no excuse. I played well enough to win, certainly to get a play-off and I still felt on the 18th that I had a chance of a play-off an a victory."
Swede Peter Hanson finished alongside Jimenez on 16 under after carding a four-under-par 68.
Overnight leader Padraig Harrington had been expected to continue his fine form from Saturday after starting the day with a one-shot lead.
He made solid progress on his outward nine, carding three birdies, but he failed to make another coming home and bogeys on the 11th and 18th meant he dropped to joint fifth at 14 under overall.
Tournament debutant Retief Goosen finished alongside the Dubliner, a disappointing par 72 on Friday proving to be his undoing after an impressive weekend on the course.
Last year's winner, Chris DiMarco, was also left regretting some disappointing scores in earlier rounds after he carded a superb six-under 66 today and finished fourth.
Of the other Irishmen in the field Gary Murphy lost ground after his 73 dropped the Kilkennyman back to tied 36th on seven under. Graeme McDowell (70) was a shot further back while Damien McGrane remained on five under after his level par 72.
