Thaindian News

Abu Dhabi, Jan 24 (IANS) Finishing blues continued to haunt the Indian duo, Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur, who again dropped shots towards the end in the fourth and final round of the Abu Dhabi Open Golf Championships.
Jeev, starting on tenth tee, was four-under after 12 holes, dropped two bogeys on fifth and seventh to finish at 70. He was tied 49th.

Kapur, also a tenth tee starter, had an even more disastrous finish as he dropped no less than four shots between third and the sixth holes and from five-under for 11, finished at one-under par and ended the tournament at three-under at 56th place.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Martin Kaymer birdied the final hole to edge out Ian Poulter by a shot and win his second title here in three years.

Overnight leader Kaymer, the 2008 champion and last year’s runner-up, topped the leaderboard at 21-under par as his bogey free final round 66 was enough to see off Poulter, who also hit 66 in a valiant display.

Rory McIlroy dropped just one shot on his way to a five under 67 to claim third place, a further shot adrift.

Shane Lowry posted his best finish on The European Tour since turning professional with his bogey free 67 securing fourth at 17 under.

Ryder Cup hopefuls Kaymer, Poulter and McIlroy were playing together in the final group, and were in sensational form from the outset.

Both Kaymer and Poulter birdied the first two holes, before the Englishman caught the overnight leader from Germany when he completed his hattrick at the third.

There was still nothing to choose between them when both men gained a shot at the sixth, but on the par five eighth Poulter left his 40 foot birdie putt agonisingly short as Kaymer converted form close range to restore his one shot lead.

Consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th saw Poulter go in front, before Kaymer levelled the scores at 20-under on the long par four 14th.

With Kaymer and Poulter level heading onto the final tee after trading blows all day, the German crucially found the centre of the fairway while his playing partner pushed his drive into the left rough.

After Poulter was forced to lay-up, Kaymer found the green with his approach and rolled to within two feet to leave Poulter with a 20 foot putt to stay in the hunt.

Despite his putting being the highlight of an outstanding week, Poulter missed the birdie chance allowing Kaymer to hold his nerve and land a fifth European Tour title after winning his first at Abu Dhabi Golf Club two years earlier.