Larrazábal seizes the Falcon Trophy in nail biting final day at the 2014 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal seized the Falcon Trophy from under the noses of Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy today, as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship delivered a nail-biting final day of world class golf, with one of its closest-ever finishes.

The 30 year old claimed his third European Tour title with a clinical round 67, to finish on 14 under par and win by a stroke from the two Major Champions.

It was a hard-earned victory, on a day in which the lead changed hands many times and any one of a dozen players could have taken the title.

After three days of beautiful blue skies and beaming Abu Dhabi sunshine, forecasts of late afternoon thunderstorms – unexpected in an emirate where it rains only a handful of days a year – meant a two-tee start, with the leading group beginning at 10am.  Light early morning rain before the rounds started didn’t inhibit the scoring though, as fans were treated to a morning birdie feast as the sun came out again.

The ‘big guns’ of Mickelson, McIlroy and Jimenez each blasted out a statement of intent from the start, firing birdies at the opening holes.  Mickelson had a four-footer for birdie on the first, which just shaved the hole, but rattled one in on the second, as did McIlroy, while Jimenez made two birdies in the first three holes.  The big early mover, however, was Dutchman Joost Luiten who banged in birdies on the first four holes to surge up to third on the leaderboard.

By 11am, overnight leader Craig Lee had dropped a stroke and was joined in the lead by Spanish duo Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Larrazábal, who had started the day three shots back on nine under par.  With birdie putts dropping all over the place, at this point, twelve players were within two shots of the 11 under par lead and the growing Abu Dhabi galleries knew it was game on!

As the clock struck noon, the crowds could see they were in for the most nail-biting afternoon in the history of the Championship.  McIlroy had recovered from a bogey on the 5th with birdies on the 7th and the 8th bringing him into the lead, where he joined Mickelson and Larrazábal.  Lee was moving in the other direction, with bogeys on the 3rd and 4th dropping him back a shot behind the leaders but at this point, it was clear this could be anyone’s trophy.

As the leaders reached the turn, Mickelson held the sole lead at 12 under par but almost immediately he was caught, this time by McIlroy and South African George Coetzee, who was by now at six under par for the day.

Coetzee couldn’t add to his birdie count over his last few holes and was to finish tied for fourth with Cabrera-Bello, while overnight leader Lee faded further on the back nine to finish at seven under par.

All eyes were now on the last two groups.  Disaster struck Mickelson on 13 with a triple bogey seven thanks to a double-hit on his ball trying to come out of the rough.  Three birdies over the next five holes were to keep him in contention till his last stroke but the damage had been done.

On a day when the back nine was going to make all the difference, it was Larrazábal’s birdies on 11, 13 and 18 which were to give the final advantage.

McIlroy, smarting from yesterday’s two-stroke penalty for a rules incursion, had pushed hard all the way round and when he sank his final putt for a birdie, after a beautiful chip to a foot from the rough, his only hope was that nerves would unravel Larrazábal as he stood over his seven-foot putt.

The Spaniard stayed ice cool in the Abu Dhabi warmth, though, to sink the shot for a round of 67.  Only an eagle from Mickelson could now knock him off the Falcon Trophy perch but despite giving himself a putt for it, the American could only watch in dismay as his final shot stayed out.

“Unbelievable!” was Larrazábal’s response, when asked how it felt to be the first Spanish player to lift the Falcon Trophy.  “Today has been very special, to fight against Rory and Phil, both top five in the world.

“It’s been a long journey.  It’s been a lot of work.  Only my team, my family and I, know how much I work for it, to arrive properly, to arrive in form in Abu Dhabi.  That’s what we did, and yeah, these are happy days!”

McIlroy, who has now missed out on the Abu Dhabi title due to a two-shot penalty for the second time in his career, was frustrated for himself but full of praise for Larrazábal.  “Pablo played very well.  I can’t take anything away from him.  It’s good to see one of my closer friends out here get the win.”

Mickelson was also rueing his penalty stroke but said he had had a great week.  “What a fun week this has been, to be here at Abu Dhabi with great weather, a wonderful golf course.  We had perfect conditions all week long.”

As soon as Lee, Bhullar and Mickelson left the 18th, the green underwent a quick set-change, ready to host the official prize giving ceremony.  In a delightful twist, prize-giving formalities were unexpectedly interrupted by the world’s first flash mob of Al Ayala – the unique Emirati dance – to cheers and rapturous applause from greenside spectators and from the overlooking sponsor hospitality chalets.

The sound of a distant Abu Dhabi drum beat grew louder and what appeared to be spectators, stewards and marshals unexpectedly sprang into action, joining 20 Al Ayala dancers on the green –a wonderful encapsulation of the Emirati culture which had ensured such a warm welcome for the world’s best golfers for the ninth year running.

MC Fatima Al Balooshi, of Abu Dhabi’s Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA), introduced the prize-giving ceremony, which was led by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, TCA Abu Dhabi; Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, Deputy Chairman and CEO, HSBC Middle East and North Africa; and other sponsor representatives.  His Highness Sheikh Sultan presented the coveted Falcon Trophy to Larrazábal, along with the winner’s cheque for $450,000.

Phil Mickelson had some consolation, taking the prize for most birdies during the four days, with 22, winning two Diamond Class flights anywhere in the world with the UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways.

This year’s Spirit of the Championship award went to Doug Smith, Rescue Expert-Instructor and Volunteer, whose continued involvement in the Championship earned him the prestigious accolade and a holiday visit to the luxury Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort amid the huge sand dunes of Liwa.

The prize-giving brought to an end not just an enthralling four days of golf but a wonderful extravaganza of fun and activities for Abu Dhabi visitors and residents alike.
 
Across the four sun-filled afternoons, the 2014 Championship Village welcomed thousands of visitors, delivering masses of non-stop, family-friendly entertainment.  Surprise player appearances from stars including Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald, as well as cameos from the HSBC Ambassadors, Tim Henman and George Greegan, added to the range of games and attractions on show.