Molinari has enjoyed a remarkable season, winning his maiden major championship at The Open Championship along with his first Rolex Series title at the BMW PGA Championship.

Englishman Fleetwood, who needed to win at the Jumeirah Golf Estates to overtake Molinari in European Tour's money list, finished with a final-round four-under-par 68 to end 10-under overall; eight shots behind his countryman Danny Willett, who won for the first time since the 2016 Masters.

"It's incredible," Molinari said. "Now I'm going to have time to sit down and relax and really think back about the last few months.

"This morning on the first tee the announcement is the winner of The Open Championship, Race to Dubai leader, it doesn't sound real at the moment.

"It's more than I ever dreamed of achieving. I've seen guys that I think are better players than me not winning majors and not winning Order of Merits or Race to Dubais. To achieve those things in one single season is just incredible."

RIGHT: Fleetwood congratulated Molinari after the Italian won the Race to Dubai. PHOTO: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

Molinari was also part of Team Europe's Ryder Cup victory over the US at Le Golf National in September, becoming the first European to win five points out of five.

Four of those points were won in a pairing with teammate Fleetwood.

"It's tough in a way because it would have been probably easier in a way to play against anyone else but him (Fleetwood)," Molinari added.

"I know how talented he is and I really thought at some point he was going to win it and put me in a tough spot.

"He's obviously a great guy and a super talented player and I'm sure being younger than me, he's going to win a few more Race to Dubais."

Wade Ormsby was the best of the Australians, finishing T30, while Victorian Lucas Herbert shared 49th place.