Final-hole birdie wins it for Kaymer
Source: Agencies |
January 25, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MARTIN Kaymer birdied the 18th hole yesterday to win the Abu Dhabi Championship in the United Arab Emirates for the second time in three years and record a fifth European Tour victory.
The German sank the two-foot putt for his sixth birdie in a six-under 66 to total 21-under 267 and beat Ian Poulter by a stroke. The Englishman had a 66 after missing a 15-foot birdie putt to force a playoff at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland was third at 269 after a 67.
"That was the nicest round of golf I have ever played on the European Tour," said Kaymer, who has a metal plate in his right foot from a go-kart crash last summer.
"All three of us played such good golf, we were going for the flags and going for everything. And to have come through that should be a real help if I make my Ryder Cup debut later this year."
Kaymer won the Abu Dhabi title in 2008 and finished runner-up last year. Over his past 12 rounds in Abu Dhabi, he is 56-under.
Having led by a shot overnight, Kaymer opened yesterday with two birdies as Poulter picked up three shots in his first three holes.
However, Poulter was soon left to regret his tactics at the par-five final hole. Despite needing to attack, he laid up on his second shot before Kaymer smashed a three-wood from 277 yards on to the green. The German two-putted to take the US$391,000 winning check.
Shane Lowry shot a 67 to be four shots back in fourth spot. It was the Irishman's first top-five finish on the European Tour since turning professional straight after winning last year's Irish Open as an amateur.
In Christchurch, New Zealand, Australian Mitchell Brown beat compatriot Ashley Hall in a sudden-death playoff yesterday to win the New Zealand PGA Championship.
Brown parred the first hole of the playoff while Hall missed a putt and bogeyed. The win was Brown's first in four years as a professional.
Brown and Hall finished level at 281, seven-under par, one shot ahead of New Zealander Grant Moorhead. Brown shot a final-round 68, Hall a 73 and Moorehead 71.
The German sank the two-foot putt for his sixth birdie in a six-under 66 to total 21-under 267 and beat Ian Poulter by a stroke. The Englishman had a 66 after missing a 15-foot birdie putt to force a playoff at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland was third at 269 after a 67.
"That was the nicest round of golf I have ever played on the European Tour," said Kaymer, who has a metal plate in his right foot from a go-kart crash last summer.
"All three of us played such good golf, we were going for the flags and going for everything. And to have come through that should be a real help if I make my Ryder Cup debut later this year."
Kaymer won the Abu Dhabi title in 2008 and finished runner-up last year. Over his past 12 rounds in Abu Dhabi, he is 56-under.
Having led by a shot overnight, Kaymer opened yesterday with two birdies as Poulter picked up three shots in his first three holes.
However, Poulter was soon left to regret his tactics at the par-five final hole. Despite needing to attack, he laid up on his second shot before Kaymer smashed a three-wood from 277 yards on to the green. The German two-putted to take the US$391,000 winning check.
Shane Lowry shot a 67 to be four shots back in fourth spot. It was the Irishman's first top-five finish on the European Tour since turning professional straight after winning last year's Irish Open as an amateur.
In Christchurch, New Zealand, Australian Mitchell Brown beat compatriot Ashley Hall in a sudden-death playoff yesterday to win the New Zealand PGA Championship.
Brown parred the first hole of the playoff while Hall missed a putt and bogeyed. The win was Brown's first in four years as a professional.
Brown and Hall finished level at 281, seven-under par, one shot ahead of New Zealander Grant Moorhead. Brown shot a final-round 68, Hall a 73 and Moorehead 71.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
