Having shot three consecutive rounds of 67, Kaymer was forced to raise his game on the final day as England’s Ian Poulter continued to push him to the very last stroke. Both golfers carded an impressive 66 and the tournament looked like it was going to a play-off until the German pulled out a fairway wood to make the mammoth drive to the 18th green, as Poulter had to lay-up.

A solid 30-foot putting effort from Poulter on the last green, which would have forced the playoff, went agonisingly close, and the flamboyant Englishman, who had been a massive crowd favourite, had to settle for a second place finish of 20-under-par.

“They were four fantastic days, especially today, I played very solid. It was tight in the middle of the round. Poulter made a few birdies, all of a sudden, McIlroy made a few birdies and I was not leading the tournament anymore,” said Kaymer, who secured his maiden European Tour victory in 2008 at Abu Dhabi, and finished second last year, missing out by one shot to England’s Paul Casey.

“I really feel comfortable here, both on and off the course. The people are always really nice and they always look after us so well. I really enjoy being here and I’ll be back next year.”

The final day grouping of Kaymer, Poulter and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was always going to be a thrilling affair. With three of the world’s top 15 leading the Sunday pack, and only one shot separating them as they teed off on the 405-yard 1st hole, they certainly didn’t disappoint the thousands of fans following them around Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National Course.

Poulter had it all to do starting the day a shot behind Kaymer, whose victory catapults him up the world rankings to sixth, his highest ever position. Not daunted by a challenge, Poulter came out focussed and hungry, sinking three consecutive birdies on the opening holes while the German could only manage two. With the overall scores level by the 174-yard fourth, the dynamic duo continued to trade blows until the last.

“Martin played well today and was very solid. He was in front, shot a six-under and that’s going to be hard to beat. It’s still a nice start to the season, if you are going to take positives out of this. Although I am pretty frustrated that I’ve walked away shooting that score and I haven’t won,” said Poulter, who is known for both his eye-catching outfits and his superlative golf skills.

McIlroy, who finished fifth in Abu Dhabi last year, could not keep the blistering pace with his playing partners, carding only two birdies and a bogey on the front nine. As the afternoon wore on, perhaps inspired by the sterling golfing displays of Poulter and Kaymer, the 20-year-old world number 11 raised his game to finish in third, with a score of 19-under-par.

“I’ve got nothing but positives to take from this, because I thought I thought I did very well. I mean you know; it’s still a great way to start the season. You go out in the last group one behind, you shoot a five-under and most times you’re going to come out on top,” said McIlroy, who shot to fame with a superb opening three-under-par 68 in the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie, the only bogey-free round of the day.

It was a fitting end to this year’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship as it celebrated its fifth anniversary. With its strongest ever field, including eight of the world’s top 14, and a hugely enhanced off-course entertainment line-up, the tournament’s success was a major boost for the emirate’s emergence as a world-class golf destination of distinction.

“What a remarkable weekend of golf and I believe it sets the tone for the emirate’s golfing ambitions over the next five years. With two championship ready courses coming online in the next few months, on Saadiyat and Yas Islands, as well as an 18-hole, all-grass course under the shadow of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, our future looks very promising indeed,” said HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, which organises the Championship.

The next major golfing event in the UAE capital will be the Saadiyat Beach Classic, taking place at the Gary Player-designed Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on 28th January 2010. The top-tier charity tournament has attracted leading international golfing names and celebrities from the world of sport including McIlroy, Sam Torrance OBE, Darren Clarke, Peter Mitchell, Costantino Rocca, Catriona Matthe, Melissa Reid, Maria Verchenova and Henrietta Zuel, as well as many more.
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