Casey seals Gulf win
The Englishman began the day three shots off the lead on ten under
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Sunday, 21, Jan 2007 02:19
England's Paul Casey fired a stunning final round of 65 to clinch victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship.
The 2006 golfer of the year carded a round of seven under par after firing eight birdies to finish one stroke ahead of his nearest rivals in the Gulf sunshine.
Casey's Ryder Cup team-mate Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sweden's Peter Hanson were tied for second place on 16 under.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who began the day with a one-stroke lead, finished in fifth place with Retief Goosen and Jean-Francois Lucquinon on 14 under after bogies on the 11th and 18th holes.
Casey bogeyed on the final hole, leaving Jimenez with a chance to force a dramatic play-off.
But the Spaniard missed the birdie putt and Casey clinched his eighth European Tour victory and a cheque for £170,000.
Jimenez, who also bogeyed the 17th hole, felt he deserved a play-off.
"I had a very good chance but I hit a very bad shot at the 17th. I missed the shot and there is no excuse," Jimenez said.
"I played well enough to win today, certainly to get a play-off and I still felt on the 18th that I had a chance of a play-off and a victory."
The win will catapult Casey up the European Tour of Merit table as he bids to clinch the Harry Vardon trophy after missing out to Harrington in 2006.