The European Tour today unveiled a new look Final Series as part of The 2016 Race to Dubai, with the Nedbank Golf Challenge forming part of a revamped three-tournament end of season swing.

Squeaky bum time was Sir Alex Ferguson’s facetious way of describing those pressure packed moments when everything is on the line.

Shane Lowry proved that golf is the game played on the six inch course between the ears when he put three average rounds behind to move up from fifth to third in the Race to Dubai after the closing 66 in the Turkish Airlines Open.

Graeme McDowell insists a taste of Turkish delight this week could transform the year from hell into the promise of a sweet ’16 to come.

Is Rory McIlroy getting nervous about retaining his Race to Dubai Crown?

The Co Down man's frustration with his putting is growing by the day but if the former world No 1 hasn't lost his sense of gallows humour, he's already referencing the importance of getting it right for the three Final Series events he faces over the next few weeks.

An Offaly man might win the Race to Dubai, a Major or a Ryder Cup cap before the Faithful County claims another All Ireland title. At least, that’s possibly what’s going through the mind the county's favourite golfing son, Shane Lowry, as he begins to believe that he’s now one of the greatest players on the planet.

Simon Thornton could reflect on his best European Tour finish in more than a year and a cheque for €18,180. But there was little else positive for the Irish to take from the KLM Open.

Darren Clarke admitted he was “taking the p***” when he insisted this week that Rory McIlroy would be out of action until January.

Rory McIlroy has been named The 2014 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year, collecting the prestigious award for the second time in three years following an extraordinary season, writes the European Tour.

It's officially the first event of the 2015 Race to Dubai but for Shane Lowry it's his last chance to end a brilliant 2014 with a win and he's determined to challenge for the $1.25m top prize in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

Shane Lowry may not be able to lift 275lb weights as world number one Rory McIlroy did in a gym session in Dubai earlier this week but the affable Offaly man shrugged a huge burden off his broad shoulders when he opened with a superb six under 66 in the $8 million DP World Tour Championship.

Sergio Garcia and Marcel Siem still have a mathematical chance of denying Rory McIlroy his second Race to Dubai crown in three years but the Spaniard and his Ryder Cup team mate Lee Westwood reckon the Ulsterman “deserves” to win the Harry Vardon Trophy for his “extraordinary” year.

Rory McIlroy's 2014 season has run as smooth as silk with two major wins punctuating an outstanding campaign that has featured a series of annoucements that could have been better scripted had they been prepared by the Nike people who choose his clothing.