Welshman Jamie Donaldson overhauled Justin Rose's two-stroke lead to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship by one shot. On an enthralling final day at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Donaldson had five birdies and did not drop a shot until the final hole, to finish on 14 under.
That allowed Rose a chance to force a play-off but his birdie putt lipped out of the cup and a 71 was one too many. Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen had also missed a putt to take the event into a play-off and he shared second. Donaldson, 37, waited 11 years and 255 events to record his first European Tour victory last season at the Irish Open. Having already qualified for the Masters at Augusta in April by breaking into the top 50 by the turn of the year, he required only 14 more events to add his second title with an impressive display in the Middle East, defying a series of contenders, most noticeably world number five Rose. "It was nerve-wracking," he admitted having watched the final pair miss opportunities to take the tournament to extra holes. "I thought one of them would hole if not both. I'm just very happy to be holding the trophy."
Courtesy of The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship / Getty Images
