Sunday, November 21, 2010:
Ian Poulter landed his tenth European Tour title by holding off all challengers at the UBS Hong Kong Open.
The 34 year old, who narrowly missed out at last week’s Barclays Singapore Open, closed with a three under par 67 to finish with a 22 under par aggregate of 258.
That was one clear of compatriot Simon Dyson and Italy’s Matteo Manassero, but in truth The Ryder Cup star never looked like relinquishing the advantage he had held since the second round.
A bogey at the last after his approach found the bunker slightly spoiled his card, but three birdies on the front nine and a brilliant eagle at the par five 13th – where he nailed his drive then faded a fairway wood approach to 12 feet – secured victory.
Dyson’s 65 saw him emerge as the main challenger, but after a front nine 30 the former UBS Hong Kong Open winner’s putter went cold on the way in and he picked up just one more shot.
Manassero’s eight under 62 confirmed the teenager’s outstanding talent, while American Anthony Kang took fourth ahead of Graeme McDowell – who having been second overnight will be disappointed not to have made a bigger dent in Martin Kaymer’s Race to Dubai lead.
World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play winner Poulter had hardly put a foot wrong all week and when he found water at the third it was his first bogey of the tournament.
The win also moves Poulter back inside the top ten on the Official World Golf Rankings and increases his earnings in The Race to Dubai to €1,983,142 – the most he has ever won in a single European Tour season.
“This feels more than good,” said Poulter. “I’ll be honest, the last two weeks I’ve been really disappointed. You know, Shanghai I was lying fourth with six holes to play and didn’t kick on and then last week I was in the lead for a number of holes.
“I was in position again to win and I didn’t do it because I didn’t convert the putts. I played nicely on Sunday but on Monday I didn’t quite convert the putts. I’ve played great all week this week. I think today, I actually played better to shoot three under than I did 10 under on Friday. I don’t think I’ve hit as many good golf shots in a long time.
“I felt calm all day. I felt as if I just kept going around my business, I’d make a few birdie putts and that would be enough to win. It’s very pleasing to do so. It’s also big for World Ranking points, Race to Dubai points so it’s all good.
“ I had a few objectives to get done coming out for six weeks on the bounce, and one of those was to obviously get up as high as I possibly cannot World Rankings, get up as high as I possibly can with The Race to Dubai so I had some good motivation to come out for six weeks and play good golf.”
McDowell’s challenge for the title never really materialised as the Northern Irishman finished with a two under 68 to take fifth place.
The US Open Champion was undone by two bogeys in his first three holes and though he recovered on the back nine with five birdies, it was too late to threaten playing partner Poulter.
McDowell now switches his focus to the Dubai World Championship next week where he hopes to be crowned Europe’s Number One ahead of current Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer, having reduced the arrears to €214,222.
Rory McIlroy had narrowly missed out on victory at the Hong Kong Golf Club in the last two years and though he started well this time he was never really in the hunt as the final round progressed.
The 21 year old bogeyed the first and though he recovered with four birdies over his next 12 holes, another dropped shot on the par four 14th left him with plenty to do in his remaining holes.
McIlroy birdied the 16th before making par on the last two holes to finish on three under, four shots behind Poulter in sixth.
Last year’s winner Grégory Bourdy claimed a share of 11th after carding a 68 while Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning Captain Colin Montgomerie shot a 69 to tie for 47th place.
ENDS
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