Abu Dhabi: Challenger Ian Poulter remained confident but overnight leader Martin Kaymer combined his ice-cool approach with a new-found confidence to win the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by one stroke, his second triumph here in three years.
Kaymer had on Saturday said he would like to card another round of 67 and stayed calm and composed as he notched up a birdie on the 18th to see off the challenge of Poulter, while Rory McIlory finished a stroke behind in third.
It was a fascinating duel between Kaymer and Poulter after McIlroy dropped a shot on the fourth to leave his two group partners battling for the title.
Kaymer, overnight leader by one stroke, started the final round with birdies on the first and second holes.
Successive birdies
Poulter, bidding to become the second Englishman to win here after Paul Casey's victories in 2007 and 2009, went one better with three successive birdies and from then on it was almost stroke for stroke.
Both birdied the sixth hole to stay level on 17-under but Kaymer finished the front nine the way he started it with a lead, after he birdied the seventh to lead midway through.
Going into back nine, McIlroy was three strokes behind Kaymer while Poulter was keeping the pressure on the young German.
The large crowds of fans were treated to some intense yet high quality golf and by the 12th hole, Poulter charged ahead with birdies on the 11th and 12th.
Kaymer then once again revealed why Abu Dhabi is his happy hunting ground when he caught up with Poulter on the 14th and the two played steady to par over the next three holes as the title went to the final hole.
Kaymer, who last year eagled the final hole to finish tied for second place behind Casey, once again reserved his best for the 18th and a birdie ended Poulter's remarkable fight.
Scores
Fourth round (par 72)
- 267 - Martin Kaymer (GER) 67-67-67-66
- 268 - Ian Poulter (ENG) 65-70-67-66
- 269 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 66-69-67-67
- 271 - Shane Lowry (IRE) 68-65-71-67
- 272 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 67-71-68-66
- 273 - Ariel Canete (ARG) 70-65-74-64; Rhys Davies (WAL) 66-68-72-67
- 274 - Anders Hansen (DEN) 69-70-68-67; Soren Hansen (DEN) 72-67-68-67; David Horsey (ENG) 73-66-70-65
- 275 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 66-67-70-72; Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 66-70-68-71
- 276 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 66-67-74-69.
