Dominant Kaymer cruises home

German proves unflappable as he seals ninth tour title

Last updated: 27th January 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dominant Kaymer cruises home

Kaymer: Imperious

Final leaderboard:
(GB & Ire unless stated)
-24 M Kaymer (Ger)
-16 R McIlroy
-14 R Goosen (SA)
-14 G McDowell
-13 D Lynn
-13 G Maybin

Click here for collated scores

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New world number two Martin Kaymer cruised to an eight-shot victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday.

The German fired a closing round of 66 to successfully defend the title he won 12 months ago as well as in 2008, and notch a fourth win in his last eight tournaments.

It means the unflappable 26-year-old vaults above Tiger Woods in the world rankings and is threatening to take over from Lee Westwood at the top.

Last year's European number one started the final day with a five-shot cushion over nearest rival and playing partner Rory McIlroy, and he moved further ahead with birdies at the second and third.

By contrast, the Northern Irishman dropped shots at the third and fifth and although he picked up three birdies coming home he could never land a blow on the imperious Kaymer.

The German also birdied the 10th, 13th, 16th and 18th to finish on 24-under, a record for the tournament in which he made just one bogey at the third hole on day one.

Amazing

"It's just the perfect golf course for me, I consider it to be my home golf course to be honest," said Kaymer, who also finished second here two years ago.

"I always play well here, I enjoy coming to Abu Dhabi and it's always a great start (to the season). If you play like this it's a good start.

"It was more difficult this year but I just played really good golf - my putting was amazing this week. It was one of those weeks where everything goes your way.

"I'm working on my swing a little with my coach and don't think there's much to improve on this week, but there's always something. I only made one bogey this week and that was with a shank!

"It's definitely nice to overtake who is, for me, the best player in the world."

Retief Goosen of South Africa and McIlroy's countryman and confidante Graeme McDowell emerged from the pack to finish in a tie for third on 14-under, the former firing a flawless round of 64, while Ryder Cup hero McDowell finally got the putter working for a 67.

Gareth Maybin, another Northern Irelander and a two-time runner-up in 2010, showed that a first tour win must not be far away with a fifth-place finish alongside Englishman David Lynn.

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