England’s Paul Waring held off a stellar field to win the Abu Dhabi Championship, claiming just his second title on the European Tour and first in six years.
The 39-year-old beat countryman Tyrell Hatton by two shots, closing with a six-under-par 66 at Yas Links to finish on 24 under.
Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy shot a 64 to finish in a three-way tie for third on 21 under, alongside England’s Matt Wallace and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.
Hatton also finished with a 64, birdieing the final two holes to move level with Waring on 22 under, but Waring reclaimed the outright lead with a 40-foot birdie putt on the 17th and rolled in another at the last to seal a sensational win.
“To keep control of myself in the way I did, I’m really proud of myself. I’m a bit taken aback right now,” said the Birkenhead-born player.
“I felt that my golf game has been in such a good place over the past year, I just haven’t put it all together. What a week for it all to click together.”
Waring put himself into position with a course-record 11-under-par 61 in the second round – the lowest of his career – but saw a five-shot lead dwindle to just one after a third-round 73.
The DP World Tour’s biggest names were circling, with two-time winner Tommy Fleetwood and former Open winner Shane Lowry also in the mix.
Fleetwood eventually finished in a four-way tie for sixth on 20 under after his closing 67, while Waring’s playing partner Lowry dropped three shots in the final six holes to finish back in 13th on 18 under.
McIlroy also posted a strong challenge and while his closing round of eight under par was not enough for victory, he was happy to finish one shot ahead of South African Thriston Lawrence – his closest challenger in the Race to Dubai rankings.
“I set myself a target with six holes to go and I achieved that target,” said the Northern Irishman, who now looks set to be crowned Europe’s top golfer for a sixth time at next weekend’s season finale in Dubai.
“I was glad to make the four at the last and give myself a little bit more of a cushion going into Dubai.”
