Dubai: For a tournament littered with stars such as Lee Westwood, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson, it was two journeymen that captivated the crowds on the National Course at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Saturday.
It was Irishman Shane Lowry — who had led from day one — who finally got his hands on the Falcon Trophy, but not before a day of drama, collapses and a fightback that will live long in the memory.
Beginning the day three strokes in front, Lowry had a horror show during his final round on a rollercoaster day in the UAE capital. Four bogeys and two birdies after 11 holes saw his lead evaporate and allow South Africa’s Richard Sterne take over at the front.
Sterne, playing alongside the Irishman, fired in six birdies and one bogey on the front nine to swing the tournament in his favour and leave Lowry four strokes back, looking down and out.
However, the battle between the front two then took another dramatic twist as Lowry picked up two strokes at the 12th and 13th while Sterne dropped shots at the 14th and 16th to leave the pair all square going up the last.
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship has had its fair share of final day drama during its 13-year history and it looked like heading for the first ever play-off in the event as nothing separated the final pairing on the 18th.
But it was Irishman Lowry who somehow held his own after what must have been the most nerve-wracking day of his career to send in a brilliant three-wood approach shot on the last and then took two putts to grab a vital birdie, take the title, pocket a cheque for more than €6 million and claim the season’s first Rolex Series tournament — one of eight of the European Tour’s premier events.
“I thought I was gone, I really did,” Lowry confessed after he had gathered himself to lift the famous Falcon Trophy. “I didn’t think I had that in me today. I’m so happy. It means everything to me. I woke up a couple of times last night, I could visualise my little one running around Augusta in a boiler suit caddying for me. That’s how mental this game is.”
The crowd favourite from County Offaly added he wants to enjoy the moment right now before targeting the Ryder Cup team under captain and fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington in 2020.
Dutchman Joost Luiten was alone in third on 15-under-par after producing two eagles in his final-round 65. Louis Oosthuizen rallied on the back nine to claim fourth place ahead of Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, while Ian Poulter settled for a share of sixth spot.
World No. 2 Koepka finished joint ninth, while No. 3 Johnson shot an impressive 67 to climb to tied-15th after a fairly quiet week’s work alongside England’s Westwood.
Two-time defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, who just scraped into the weekend, one shot above the cut line, carded 70 to finish tied 42nd.
