The South African became the first non-European - and only the seventh player overall - to successfully defend the title.

He clinched it after after Padraig Harrington, his only remaining rival for the crown, failed to earn enough money at the season-ending event in Valderrama.

Harrington had needed to finish ahead of Goosen and high enough up the field to ensure he erased the 23,119 euros that separated him from the top spot in the money list.

Neither player performed well all week but Goosen's disastrous 78 in his third round gave the Irishman a glimmer of hope going into the final day.

But after a blip at the third where he had a double bogey, the 33-year-old steadied himself and finished with a 71, his best round of the week.

Harrington had begun the day one shot ahead of Goosen but two dropped shots in the final two holes saw him score a 73 and end up one behind.

Goosen is the first player since Sandy Lyle in 1980 to win the Order of Merit by virtue of just one victory in the season.

That came at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia back in January.

The South African was delighted to retain his European crown although admitted that his recent form had been patchy.

"I've not been playing that well for the past five months, except for the American Express Championship [in Ireland in September] where I finished second," he said.

"But you've got to play pretty well over the course of the season to defend this title.

"It's great to come through and pull it off."