Abu Dhabi: 2011 was a record-breaking year for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship as Martin Kaymer became the tournament’s first back-to-back winner, claiming the title for a third time against a field that included the then world number one Lee Westwood.
The young German’s closest competition, however, came from Rory McIlroy, who finished a whopping eight shots behind as Kaymer claimed his most emphatic win with a Championship record of 264 for the tournament, an astonishing 24-under par.
Somewhat remarkably, Kaymer did not have a single bogey in his final 60 rounds and even went on to finish in style with a birdie on the 18th, taking the world number two ranking from Tiger Woods in the process.
“It is just a perfect golf course for me,” said Kaymer following his win. “I consider it as my home course, I always play well here. If you win straight away it is a great start to the season. I hit a lot of fairways and my putting was amazing.”
In recognition of his hat-trick of Abu Dhabi titles, Kaymer was given the Falcon trophy - a £25,000 (Dh139,000) piece of silverware specially commissioned from renowned British silversmith Edward Asprey, weighing in at 5.3 kilos!
The event did not pass without controversy as three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington was disqualified before the second round after being judged to have inadvertently moved his ball during the opening round.
