Tommy Fleetwood tied the low round of the day en route to successfully defending his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title edging countryman Ross Fisher by two strokes.
Fleetwood’s stellar 2017 year started with a win by one over Dustin Johnson and culminated with him being crowned as the Race to Dubai champion. And now, he’s done it again.
The Englishman, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Saturday, handled everything that was thrown at him including being the third name in the marquee group containing Johnson and fit-again Rory McIlroy in the first two days.
He saved his best for Sunday, though, as he stormed home in 30, in the worst conditions of the week, to match Henrik Stenson’s 65.
Fisher was the only man left on the course that could catch him but needing an eagle on the last to send the tournament to a playoff, he leaked a drive out right and couldn’t find the green in two. A meek chip that never troubled the cup sealed Fleetwood’s win.
McIlroy will be pleased with his return to action even though he failed to get the job done after trailing the co-leaders Fisher and Thomas Pieters by one with 18 to play. Four birdies and two bogeys was never enough to put any real pressure on Fleetwood.
Only two of the eight South Africans that made the cut managed to break par on Sunday with Branden Grace topping that pile after finishing in a share of 15th despite a 73.
Richard Sterne was one shot further back in T19 after a 70 in the final round with Dylan Frittelli matching Sterne’s final tally after closing with a 74.
Photo: Getty Images
