Second to a stroke behind the leader after 54 holes, Rory McIlroy, Englishman Tyrrell Hatton showed incredible mental strength to win at -18 (270) his fourth Rolex Series in five years on the European Tour, leaving his main opponent five lengths behind. The French Benjamin Hébert, Antoine Rozner and Romain Langasque take 16th place in the final.
Unbelievable ! After the Italian Open 2017, the Turkish Airlines Open 2019 and the BMW PGA Championship 2020, Tyrrell Hatton wins his fourth Rolex Series. His sixth tournament on the European Tour. The Englishman, 29, with a last card of 66 (-6) without the slightest error, wins at -18 (270) l’Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, first Rolex Series of the 2021 season on the European Tour.
We expected a bitter and merciless duel this Sunday between Rory McIlroy, leader at -13 (203) after 54 holes, and his runner-up one point behind, Tyrrell Hatton. But the showdown only lasted three holes … The time that McIlroy, author of a great start with two birdies at 2 and 3, takes two points ahead of his main rival (also author of ‘a birdie in 2) before suddenly cracking on par 3 of 4 with a first bogey on a putt of less than two meters completely missed, to the right of the hole.
The Northern Irishman, curiously, will never recover and Hatton will take the opportunity to come back to his height (at 7) and then to escape (at 9 thanks to a magnificent putt of more than 8 meters in the box). Stunned, the world No. 6 will think he holds the key by planting the green of 10 (a par 5 of 532 meters) in two but his playing partner succeeded in the process of a new birdie on a splendid left-right putt far from be done about five yards from the target. -4 after ten holes on one side, -1 only on the other … The slow but certain descent “into hell” for the former world No. 1 was confirmed on the 11th with a third bogey, forcing him to accuse then three points behind then four with a fifth birdie from Hatton at 13.
It is therefore not yet this year that the quadruple winner in Major (US Open 2011, USPGA 2012, British Open and USPGA 2014) will win here at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club. He who nevertheless displays four second places and three third places between 2008 and 2021.
Truth be told, Tyrrell Hatton, only 29, was clearly unplayable in this final round of both the first tournament and the richly endowed first Rolex Series ($ 8 million) of the 2021 season. Despite the onslaught at the start of the game his opponent, he replied with mastery each time, taking advantage of a sumptuous putter day in hand and a game that was still just as solid. So efficient that Tyrrell Hatton also annihilated other potential hunters such as his compatriot Tommy Fleetwwod, able to bar him (-2 after nine holes) before, too, lowering the flag at the end of the course (bogey at 16, double at 17) and take seventh place at -10 (278) with compatriots Matt Wallace and Chris Paisley and Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti. It was finally the Australian Jason Scrivener, author of a fabulous return in 29 (-7) on the last nine holes of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, who took second place at -14 (274), McIlroy being satisfied a third step on the podium at -13 after posting a last dull 72 (par).
“To be honest, it’s quite unreal what is happening, comments after the fact the winner of the 2021 edition at the microphone of the European Tour. Even when I hit my last shot on the 18th green, I didn’t think I won the tournament. It’s incredible. I have always loved starting my season here in Abu Dhabi (Editor’s note, his best result so far in six participations before 2021 was a 6th place acquired in 2015) and now to see my name in the company of such great champions is a huge honor for me. It is enormous. To start the year with a lot of points for the Ryder Cup, which is one of my goals this year, is just great. I want to be part of this team… We are going to celebrate this evening but from tomorrow (Monday) we will plan on the next meeting (at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic (January 28-31)). ”
On the French side, the good has alternated with the less good. Thanks to a superb 67 (-5), Benjamin Hébert thus joined in 16th final place (-6) his compatriots Antoine Rozner (68) and Romain Langasque (71). The Briviste is also gaining 36 places on the leaderboard here compared to the day before. Alexander Levy, who offered himself a very nice car on Saturday thanks to a hole in one on the par 3 of 15, and Victor Dubuisson follow in 25th position at -5 (285). On the other hand, best tricolor Saturday night (8th), Mike Lorenzo-Vera tumbles (- 33 places) to 41st row (-3) with his heavy 76 (+4), imitated by Victor Perez, 46th at -2. Julien Guerrier, 71 (-1) in this last round, ends up 52nd at -1.
.
