Alvaro Quiros paid tribute to worthy adversaries Paul Lawrie and Luke Donald after capturing the Dubai World Championship on Sunday.
Spaniard Quiros was feeling the pressure during his final round at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, and with good reason.
Scotsman Lawrie made a fast start with five birdies in the first eight holes, and also birdied the 18th hole at the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course.
Luke Donald, on his own mission to secure top spot both in the US PGA Tour and European Tour money lists, also threatened, with three birdies on the last three holes.
But Quiros topped both of his rivals with an eagle at the last, winning by two strokes to claim the sixth European Tour victory of his career.
"It was unbelievable, obviously we weren't checking the leaderboards because Lawrie was playing good enough to put me under pressure today," Quiros said.
"But after that I heard Luke's birdie on 17 and 18 and I said on the tee, 'this is unbelievable, this guy is impossible to leave behind'.
"But obviously it (the eagle at 18) was very special, I hit three wood from the tee and a great three-wood from a downhill lie and the putt, the putt is going to sleep with me tonight.
"He (Lawrie) was unbelievable, he was almost one putt per green. But at the same time I was playing good and that was the only thing I was thinking about."
Quiros had stormed into the lead with a course-record equalling eight-under-par 64 on Friday.
He faltered slightly with a two-under 70 in the penultimate round, but knew another competitive performance over the final 18 holes would be enough to give a chance of victory.
"I was thinking if I'm good enough to stay in the same rhythm I'll be in contention," he said.
"I don't know if I'm going to be the leader at the end of the 18 holes but I'm going to be in contention."
It was Quiros' second victory of the season and both came in the United Arab Emirates, after he also won the Dubai Desert Classic in February.
The 28-year-old now has his sights set on earning a berth in the European team for next year's Ryder Cup at the Medinah Country Club.
"I'm very pleased to finish 2011 winning twice, for many reasons but the main one is that the Ryder Cup team is next season and it's a good push for me winning this tournament."