TOMMY Fleetwood is holding his head high despite an agonising end to his season.

The Holmes Chapel resident was on course for a second Race to Dubai title as he led the campaign-ending DP World Tour Championship.

However, Spaniard Jon Rahm birdied the 18th hole to take the win and the overall season title.

Fleetwood had already finished his final round and birdied five of his last seven holes but could only watch on in hope that his score of 18 under par would prove enough to claim the huge cash prize.

His European Ryder Cup teammate Rahm had other ideas and an exquisite up-and-down from the final hole’s greenside bunker secured him the three million US Dollar (£2.34m) winner’s prize plus the two million US Dollar bonus for coming top of the Race to Dubai standings.

The 28-year-old, however, remained upbeat.

"I'm proud of the end of the season and these two weeks make it seem in a different light," he said.

"Fair play to Jon – that's a cracking birdie down the last when you have to make it.

“There's always going to be a little bit of disappointment there, but I got myself back in it and I am very proud of the way I played on that back nine.”

Fleetwood was in contention all week at Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf Estates, his confidence clearly bristling after his win at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa the previous week.

He started solidly with rounds of 67, 68 and 70 but it was his seven-under-par 65 on the final day that took him so close to the crown.