ABU DHABI: Paul Waring held off a stellar chasing pack on Sunday to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and claim his first Rolex Series title.
The Englishman displayed nerves of steel in his bogey-free closing 66 as he got to 24 under-par and two shots ahead of four-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton.
Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy, England’s Matt Wallace and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen ended a shot further back.
“It just hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Waring. “Obviously I still think I’ve got to go and do something else or got to go play another hole or something because I kind of never let myself think that I was over the line at any point. I always knew there was a job to be done and work to be done as I was playing.”
Waring had taken control of the first event of the new DP World Tour Play-Offs with a course-record 61 at Yas Links on Friday but saw his five-shot halfway lead reduced to one as he posted 73 a day later.
The 39-year-old, whose only previous DP World Tour title came at the Nordea Masters more than six years ago, made a fast start with two opening birdies and added two more at the seventh and 10th.
He responded to being caught by Hatton with a moment of magic as he converted from 12 meters at the 17th, before hitting a perfect drive at the last, running a three-wood through the back of the green and getting up and down to seal victory.
“That was massive (on the 17th),” said Waring. “Me and my caddie, we had a look at the lines, to be fair, we really fancied it, really, really fancied it, and as soon as it left the blade, I knew it was in.
“I know that sounds a bit cocky or whatever, but it was so pure. I knew it was dead middle as soon as I hit it, and I was just absolutely buzzing to see that go.”
“It’s my second win,” he added. “I’ve been knocking on the door a few times. I had a few seconds. I’ve been in and around a few times. To get over the line again is fantastic, and to control it the way I have as well, especially today. I thought I might have let it slip yesterday.”
McIlroy, the four-time Major winner, had the chance to take an unassailable lead in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, as he birdied four of his first six holes.
He bogeyed the fifth and added five more gains to sign for a 64, but the Race continues into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
This comes after closest challenger Thriston Lawrence recorded two eagles and four birdies in his round of 64 to get to 20 under, and a tie for sixth alongside two-time Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood, and French pair Ugo Coussaud and Antoine Rozner.
“I do feel in a good position,” said McIlroy. “I saw Thriston making a charge today, and I was keeping one eye on the leaderboard and looking at what he was doing. I saw he posted 20.
“Obviously I wanted to birdie the last, anyway, but I know that birdie, even if it isn’t to win the tournament this week, it obviously gives me that little bit extra of a cushion going into next week.
“Every shot counts at this moment in time, and I was glad to make the four at the last and at least give myself half a chance at this tournament this week. But also give myself a little bit more of a cushion going into Dubai next week as well.”
