Rory McIlroy took out the Hong Kong Open on Sunday to set up an exciting finish to the European Tour's Race to Dubai.
The world number two ensured his battle with Englishman Luke Donald to finish top of the money list would go down to the wire at next week's Dubai World Championship.
McIlroy, 22, carded a stunning five-under 65 to finish at 12-under at Fanling, two shots clear of Frenchman Gregory Havret.
Marcus Fraser was the leading Australian in the field, with the Victorian finishing seven shots off the pace in a tie for 11th, while compatriots Scott Barr (tied for 17th), Kunal Bhasin and Darren Beck (both equal 21st) will be pleased with their finishing positions.
McIlroy's victory sets up a titanic clash with Donald in the United Arab Emirates, where McIlroy can prevent the world number one finishing top of the money list by winning and hoping his rival finishes 10th or worse.
Donald is aiming to become the first player to top the money list in the same season on both sides of the Atlantic.
McIlroy, the US Open champion, chipped in from a greenside bunker on the 18th to win in Hong Kong, closing out a bogey-free round that featured five birdies.
After twice finishing runner-up at the tournament, McIlroy said he had made it a goal to win after his second-place finishes.
"I've wanted to win this tournament so badly since that playoff (loss to Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang) in 2008," he said.
"I've had to wait a couple of years to get there but to get this trophy in my hands is very special."
"It meant a lot knowing that I had to go out there and play well to keep myself alive in the Race to Dubai, probably to keep second place in the world rankings. To produce the sort of golf I did today was very pleasing. "
"I'll always come back to the tournaments that I love and Hong Kong is one of those tournaments. I absolutely love it here and it will be great to come back next year and defend this title."
Swede Peter Hanson finished third at nine-under, a shot ahead of Thai Pariya Junhasavasdikul, Englishman and defending champion Ian Poulter and Scotland's Richie Ramsay.
Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, in contention for much of the tournament, produced a three-over 73, including a horror finish to the front nine which featured two bogeys and a five on the par-three seventh.
He was tied for seventh at seven-under alongside Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat and South Korea's YE Yang.