Donaldson wins Abu Dhabi title
Abu Dhabi, Jan. 20: Jamie Donaldson reeled in red-hot Justin Rose to win the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Sunday.
The 37-year-old Welshman poked his nose in front going into the back nine and he held firm, going up against the hotly-favoured World No.5 to record just the second win of his professional career.
He came in with a final round of 68 for a 14-under total of 274.
Rose and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark were joint second on 13 under after rounds of 71 and 69 respectively with Ricardo Santos of Portugal fourth a further two strokes back after a 68.
The victory was Donaldson’s second after he won the Irish Open last year in what was his 255th European Tour event. His second took just 13 more tournaments.
It also means he will break into the world top 30 for the first time ahead of his Masters debut in April.
“It was an awesome field — one of the best fields I’ve ever played in. At the start of the week I played the Pro-Am and thought
The victory is Donaldson’s second after he won the Irish Open last year in what was his 255th European Tour event. His second took just 13 more events
this golf course is just too difficult,” added Donaldson.
“I said to the guys in the Pro-Am if I could somehow get a top-10 out of this week, it would be a miracle. And to win it, it’s hilarious!
Rose started the day two strokes clear of the field, but quickly came under pressure with Olesen the first to show, drawing level with the 32-year-old Englishman at the fifth as he birdied and Rose had a bogey.
But the fast-rising Dane came to grief at the next, a drive into deep rough, resulting in a wild second into a bush, a penalty drop and a double bogey six. — AFP