Graeme McDowell was "ecstatic" today after capping his most incredible golfing year with a dramatic play-off win over Tiger Woods in the Chevron World Challenge in California.

“2010 has been the stuff of dreams,” McDowell admitted after his stunning $1.2million victory, worth £765,000, in Woods’ own tournament.

“Playing one of the greatest golfers who has ever played and to beat him like this I'm just ecstatic,” McDowell added.

The Portrush golfer staged the greatest ever comeback against Woods from four shots down to force a play-off with one magnificent putt, and then snatch victory with another.

It represented another astonishing twist in the contrasting fortunes of the two men inside 12 months since McDowell replaced Woods as a wild card entry to the same event.

As Woods' personal life began to collapse, resurgent McDowell soared to US Open, Welsh Open and Ryder Cup glory.

Both men were also gracious in victory.

McDowell predicted Woods would again be a force to be reckoned with in 2011, saying: “I'm definitely a guy who says that golf needs Tiger Woods and we need him back to winning tournaments.”

Woods said: “We had a great battle.

“I thought I had it in the bag but, when you consider how well Graeme has been playing this year, I honestly wasn’t surprised to see those monster putts of his go in.”