Paul Waring held off a stellar chasing pack to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The 39-year-old Englishman had taken control of the event with a course-record 61 at Yas Links on Friday but saw his five-shot halfway lead reduced to one as he posted a 73 a day later.
Waring had spoken of feeling jittery during his third round but he displayed nerves of steel in a flawless closing 66.
Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy, four-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton and former Open Champion Shane Lowry were among those to turn up the heat on Waring during a thrilling final round.
But Waring, whose only previous DP World Tour title came at the Nordea Masters more than six years ago, responded to being caught by Hatton with a birdie from 40 feet at the 17th and played the last impeccably to claim the $1,530,000 winner’s cheque.
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence shared sixth position on 20 under after a bogey-free 64 that included two eagles and four birdies.
Countryman Brandon Stone was a further three strokes behind after carding 65.
– Edited report from DP World Tour website
Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
