Abu Dhabi: Runners-up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship were all praise for Martin Kaymer as the German jumped to World No 2 with victory at the par 72, 7590 yard, National Course, Abu Dhabi Golf Club yesterday.
With a score of 24 under par (67-65-66-66) Kaymer sealed his ninth European Tour victory from 100 Tour event appearances. The current European No. 1, having won the Race to Dubai last November, finished eight shots ahead of next man Rory McIlroy to claim this, his third Abu Dhabi triumph (2008, 2010, 2011) — it's also the first time the title has been won back-to-back.
His ascension to World No 2, tumbling Tiger Woods, marked the first time since 1993 that European golfers have occupied first and second spot, what with England's Lee Westwood still now to topple.
Total control
Rory McIlroy, who finished second in Abu Dhabi at 16 under (71-67-65-69) said of Kaymer's feat: "He's just incredible. Up to World No 2 and deservedly so. He's playing some great golf at the minute and he was in total control of his golf ball out there today."
Adding of Kaymer, who won his first Major in 2010, the PGA Championship, McIlroy said, "He didn't make a bogey. I think he's only made one bogey all week. It was very impressive. He just goes about his business and just gets on with it. He's a class act." Kaymer's final round saw birdies on two, three, 10, 13, 16 and 18 but another bird which flew into the media centre during Kaymer's winning press conference perhaps delighted hacks the most.
Tied for third were Graeme McDowell and Retief Goosen, who finished 14 under par on respective scores 66-70-71-67 and 70-71-69-64 were just as complimentary of Kaymer. Goosen said, "He's killing us — I've never seen anything under 20 around here. We were lucky we didn't have any wind just a bit of rain. If the wind blew like it normally does here, I would never have thought of anything above 15 under winning it."
"He obviously loves this golf course. He's played some awesome golf around here in the last few years and you know, I know what it feels like when you're in such a zone, it's a great feeling," said Goosen.
McDowell said, "Martin Kaymer has played fabulous this week, deserves everything he gets around here. He seems to own this golf course, and you know, he would have taken some catching, had I been 100 per cent on my game this week. It's just great for European golf to have No 1, No 2 in the world as European players."
Kaymer and McIlroy went into the final round first and second, but it was a solid day four for Goosen and McDowell who played catch up with their final rounds. Goosen who started the day tied for 15, birdied on holes one, two, three, six, seven, 12, 13 and 18, while McDowell who was tied for six upped his game with birdies on five, seven, 13, 15 and 16.
