Pablo Larrazábal has achieved a great victory in the Abu Dhabi golf tournament, the third in his professional career, after scoring 274 strokes and beating Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, former world number one, and the American Phil Mickelson by one.
Larrazábal started from fifth on the last round, but five under par on his card was enough to take the victory with a total of 14 under par.
Larrazábal remained calm on the final green, knowing that McIlroy and Mickelson were only one stroke behind him. The Spaniard closed the triumph with a five-meter putt that meant the birdie that gave him the title, after abandoning the idea of getting an eagle in the previous shot.
With six birdies and only one bogey, on the fifth hole, Larrazábal kept a cool head to achieve a very important victory, the third of his career after those achieved in 2008 at the Alstom Open (France) and in 2011 at the BMW Open.
The Spanish success was completed by Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who climbed to fourth place, tied with South African George Coetzee and only two strokes behind the winner.
Ranking
1. Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 274 (69+70+68+67) (-14)
2. Rory McIlroy (IRN) 275 (70+67+70+68)
2. Phil Mickelson (USA) 275 (73+70+63+69+69).
4. George Coetzee (RSA) 276 (68+70+72+66)
4. Rafa Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 276 (67+68+73+68)
6. Joost Luiten (HOL) 278 (68+70+72+68)
7. Johan Carlsson (SUE) 279 (73+70+71+65)
8. Robert Kasrlsson (SWE) 280 (73+67+72+68)
9. Stephen Gallacher (ESC) 280 (70+73+68+69)
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