ABU DHABI – Paul Waring carded a 6-under 66 to win the Abu Dhabi Championship for the biggest victory of his career on Sunday.
The 229th-ranked Englishman was one stroke ahead overnight and finished on 24 under. He even surprised himself at how smoothly the fourth and final round went.
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“It was quite an easy day really, wasn’t it? It just means so much," the 39-year-old Waring said. "To actually keep control of myself in the way that I did today I’m really proud of myself.”
He finished two shots clear of countryman Tyrrell Hatton — who had eight birdies in his 64 — and three clear of Danish golfer Thorbjorn Olesen (66), Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (64) and Englishman Matt Wallace (63) in a tie for third.
It was only his second DP World Tour title on his 332nd appearance and six years after his first at the Nordea Masters.
Waring's 19-under score after two rounds at Abu Dhabi's Yas Links was the lowest 36-hole score to par in European tour history.
Now he faces the prospect of playing as a dual member on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.
“I was quite happy living in Dubai to be honest with you," he said. "It’s going to be a long way to travel, a long commute over to America. But I’m looking forward to that. It’s a new challenge. Absolutely made up.”
Sunday's triumph also sealed him a place at The Open next year.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf