Rory McIlroy held off Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard to win the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and clinch his sixth Race to Dubai title.

The Northern Irishman finished two strokes ahead of Hojgaard on 15 under at Jumeirah Golf Estates after a three-under-par 69 in his final round.

McIlroy, 35, was confirmed as the Race to Dubai winner midway through his round when nearest challenger Thriston Lawrence – who had needed to win the tournament to have any chance of clinching the overall title – finished one under.

It is the third year in succession that McIlroy has finished top of the season rankings and his sixth title overall – matching Seve Ballesteros’ record.

Sharing a three-way lead at the start of the final round, McIlroy put two shots between himself and Hojgaard with four birdies in his first five holes.

But bogeys on the ninth and 13th allowed the Dane to draw level with four holes remaining.

Just as Hojgaard was piling on the pressure, McIlroy produced a stunning approach shot on the 16th to tee up a birdie putt.

It was precisely the type of risky, aggressive play that has worked against McIlroy in the past but it moved him one stroke clear on this occasion with two holes left.

Hojgaard was forced to be aggressive in reply, but the Dane narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 18th – relieving the pressure on McIlroy who holed his own birdie attempt to seal the win.