Bromborough’s Paul Waring Claims First Rolex Series Title at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Paul Waring, from Bromborough and now based in Dubai, triumphed at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship to secure his first Rolex Series title.
Displaying incredible composure, Waring delivered a bogey-free closing 66 to finish 24 under par, two shots ahead of four-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton.
Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy, England’s Matt Wallace, and Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen finished another shot back.
Waring made headlines on Friday with a course-record 61 at Yas Links, seizing a five-shot halfway lead. However, a 73 on Saturday narrowed his advantage to just one.
The 39-year-old, whose previous DP World Tour victory came at the Nordea Masters six years ago, started strong on Sunday with birdies on the first two holes, adding more at the seventh and 10th.
After Hatton caught up, Waring produced a pivotal moment on the 17th, sinking a 40-foot putt. He then executed a flawless drive at the 18th, ran a three-wood through the back of the green, and completed an up-and-down to secure the win.
A thrilled Waring reflected on his success:
“It just hasn’t sunk in yet. Obviously, I still think I’ve got to go and do something else or got to go play another hole or something because I kind of never let myself think that I was over the line at any point. I always knew there was a job to be done and work to be done as I was playing.
“That was massive (on the 17th). Me and my caddie, we had a look at the lines, to be fair, we really fancied it, really, really fancied it, and as soon as it left the blade, I knew it was in. I know that sounds a bit cocky or whatever, but it was so pure. I knew it was dead middle as soon as I hit it, and I was just absolutely buzzing to see that go in.
“It’s my second win. I’ve been knocking on the door a few times. I had a few seconds. I’ve been in and around a few times. To get over the line again is fantastic, and to control it the way I have as well, especially today. I thought I might have let it slip yesterday.
“But to keep a lead yesterday the way I was playing, I knew I wouldn’t have two days in a row playing like that, and today I always felt — I felt like I had another gear that I needed. I was hitting into the middle of a lot of greens. Not taking too much on.
“I’ll be looking forward to next week, actually. It’s my home course now. Got a lot of really good friends there. I can’t wait to see them all, at least tonight. I’ll have a lot of support, and there will be a real buzz around the place, and I can’t wait for next week now.”
