* Briton hails special victory
* Woods finishes joint third
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ABU DHABI Jan 29 (Reuters) – Britain’s Robert Rock
won his head-to-head duel with a ragged Tiger Woods to lift the
Abu Dhabi Championship title on Sunday after the former world
number one produced his worst performance of the week.
The two players started the day in a tie for the lead and it
was the little-known Rock who held his nerve on the final day to
collect a second European Tour victory with a closing 70 for
275, 13 under.
Woods’s sustained excellence over the first three days at
the demanding Abu Dhabi Golf Club indicated the 14-times major
champion was back to his best but his game unravelled on Sunday
as he faded to a 72 for 277.
World number three Rory McIlroy (69) finished second on 276
while Woods had to settle for a share of third spot with former
U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell (68), who had a hole-in-one
at the 12th, and Dane Thomas Bjorn (68).
The bearded Rock, who started the week 117th in the
rankings, was almost overcome with emotion after landing the
Falcon Trophy and the first prize of 347,024 euros ($455,700).
“I really can’t believe I did that today,” said the
34-year-old Englishman after another hot day in the desert. “It
is such an amazing feeling.
“I was just happy to be playing alongside Tiger, that was a
special honour in itself. Early on I played really well and I
surprised myself.
Continued…
