Russell Knox claimed his first European Tour title as Danny Willett gave his Race to Dubai hopes a major boost on a dramatic final day of the World Golf Championships - HSBC Champions.
Knox came into the final round in a share of the lead and a closing 68 around Sheshan International Golf Club took him to 20 under and handed him a two shot victory over Kevin Kisner.
Willett surged up the leaderboard into a share of third in stunning fashion early in the day, posting ten birdies in an unblemished 62 which proved to be the round of the week and moved him closer to Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy.
Knox becomes the first Scotsman to win a WGC event and he held his nerve on the back nine, opening a two shot lead with birdies on the tenth and 11th before a sixth birdie of the day on the 16th calmed any nerves.
I always kind of thought I was going to win a big one for some reason as my first one. I've been close a few times before but this is going to take a long time to sink in - Russell Knox
"It's incredible. I always hoped it was going to happen but you're just never sure. There's just so many unbelievable players on tours all around the world and to win at this stage is a dream come true. I still can't quite believe it.
"Deep down in my bones I felt I was capable of winning. I thought it was going to be maybe another year. But I'm glad it happened now.
"Winning any level is the hardest thing you can do, and especially because I've never won a big one like this. It was tough but I just kept holing putts, and golf is so much easier when that happens."
For Kisner, it was another second-placed finish for the man who has been beaten in three play-offs on the US PGA Tour in 2015.
Ross Fisher was alongside Willett at 17 under after a closing 68 with Branden Grace and Dustin Johnson a further shot back.
Matthew Fitzpatrick, local favourite Li Haotong, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth, who returned to World Number One, were then at 15 under, with McIlroy in the group of six players another shot behind.
Knox was the first man out on the course as he returned to complete his third round on the 18th and he made a birdie to join Kisner at 16 under.
When the fourth round began, it was soon clear that low scores would be possible as Willett flew out of the blocks with four birdies in a row to get to 11 under and Daniel Berger went one better, making gains on his first five to get within three of the leaders.
Kisner opened with a bogey to hand the lead to Knox who then birdied the second and third along with Johnson and Fisher.
Knox and Johnson then both bogeyed the fourth and at that point there were 10 players within three shots of the lead.
Berger and Willett continued their fine rounds to both turn in 30 and when Willett made a seventh birdie of the day on the tenth, both those men were at 14 under and right in it.
Grace was on the charge and a fifth birdie in seven holes on the eighth got him to 16 under alongside Kisner who made a gain on the sixth.
But Knox holed a great-12 footer to open up a two shot lead before a nice approach on the seventh gave Johnson a tap in and the gap was back to a single stroke.
Willett moved to 15 under with his eighth birdie of the day as his second shot got to within three feet of the testing back pin on the 13th and when he made another gain on the next, he was within two of the lead with Fisher who picked up a shot on the eighth.
Kisner also birdied the eighth to get to within one but Johnson made a double bogey after hitting the pin with his approach and agonisingly seeing his ball roll into the water.
Knox then bogeyed the ninth to drop to 17 under and birdies for Fisher on the tenth and Grace on the 11th meant there was a four-way tie at the top.
Willett briefly made it five with a gain on the 16th but back-to-back birdies from Knox put him back in the box seat.
Grace gave a shot back straight away on the 12th and would pick up two further birdies and bogeys as he came home in 36 to see his chances disappear.
Johnson picked up shots on the 14th and 16th but he was too far back and when Fisher dropped a stroke on the 15th with Knox making a gain on the next, the title was as good as sealed.
Fisher made another birdie on the 17th and Kisner, after a run of nine straight pars, birdied the last to claim second on his own and force Willett down in to second in The Race to Dubai.
Spieth had lit the course up on Saturday with a 63 but he bogeyed the first and his expected charge never came as he turned in level par before picking up birdies on the 14th and 16th.
Fitzpatrick birdied the 14th, 16th and 18th holes for the fourth time in the week to finish with an unblemished 67 and claim a ninth top ten position of the year.
A double bogey on the 14th wrecked Reed's chances in a closing 70 while Li entertained the home fans with birdies on the 16th and 17th to finish with a 72 after being four over after five holes.
McIlroy began the week with food poisoning but finished with an impressive 66 alongside Berger, Sergio Garcia, Thongchai Jaidee, Marc Leishman and Henrik Stenson.
K.T. Kim recorded the 45th hole in one of The European Tour season as he aced the 213 yard par three 17th with a three iron.
