Paul Waring keeps control of himself to clinch Abu Dhabi golf title
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England's Paul Waring holding the winner's trophy after winning the final round of the DP World Tour Championship golf tournament in Abu Dhabi on Nov 10.
PHOTO: AFP
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ABU DHABI – Englishman Paul Waring birdied the last two holes on Nov 10 for a bogey-free six-under 66 to win DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi Championship in the United Arab Emirates by two shots.
The 39-year-old, a resident of Dubai, delivered the hammer blow to the chasing pack with a 41-foot birdie putt on the par-three 17th hole at Yas Links. He then hit a brilliant three-wood second shot to set up a birdie on the last to clinch the US$9 million (S$12 million) tournament.
At 24-under 264, Waring was two shots ahead of English compatriot Tyrrell Hatton (64). World No. 3 Rory McIlroy (64) finished in a three-way tie for third place at 21 under alongside Matt Wallace (63) and Thorbjorn Olesen (66).
Waring, who shot a course-record 61 on Nov 8 en route to a new tour 36-hole scoring record of 19 under, began the final round one ahead of Dane Niklas Norgaard Molle, and birdied the first two holes.
As the pursuers made plenty of birdies, Waring, the world No. 229, kept making steady pars and he raced ahead on the closing stretch.
He was quoted by the BBC as saying: “To keep control of myself in the way I did, I’m really proud of myself. I’m a bit taken aback right now.
“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.”
It was Waring’s second win on the tour, coming six years after the 2018 Nordea Masters.
He pocketed US$1.53 million and should rise to 101st in the world rankings on Nov 11.
On the women’s circuit, South Korea’s Kim A-lim shot a four-under 68 in the final round on Nov 9 to win the Lotte Championship by two strokes and record only her second career LPGA Tour title, after the 2020 US Open.
Kim’s 18-under total of 270 at Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, consolidated her one-shot overnight lead over Russian tour rookie Nataliya Guseva, who carded a 69 to finish on 16-under 272.
American Auston Kim was third on 15 under after a final-round 67.
Starting the day at 14 under, the 29-year-old Kim opened the door to Guseva, who birdied the first, with a bogey five on the second – only for the Russian to also card a five at the same hole.
“It did not really go well, to be honest, at the beginning,” a relieved Kim said after celebrating her victory.
“I just told myself I’m going to do what I set out to do. I just trusted myself.”
It worked as Kim then went on a run of three birdies in four holes.
“After my bogey (at the second) I started to focus really well and my mind was sharp, so I started playing even better,” said the winner.
A three-putt at the eighth dropped her back into a tie with the 21-year-old Russian at 15 under.
But Guseva bogeyed the par-three ninth as Kim reached the turn a stroke ahead, where she remained until a final birdie at the 18th sealed the title.
A beaming Kim was clearly enjoying her week, which included a hole-in-one at the ninth during the third round on Nov 8, only her second-ever ace.
“It was super fun,” she said.
“On the course I feel like it was more fun.
“I haven’t felt this way in a long time.”
Guseva, who came through qualifying school to reach the elite women’s tour, was bidding to become the first Russian winner in LPGA Tour history.
She said: “I really did my best out there. I never gave up. Every hole I gave just my 100 per cent and more than that.” AFP
