Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2006

	Kaymer soars to victory A player tipped to become one of golf's superstars lay down his marker with a debut European Tour victory at this year's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
		Martin Kaymer seized his first European Tour title with victory at this year’s Abu Dhabi Dhabi’s Troon Golf-managed National Course. Kaymer did feel the pressure and Golf Championship on Abu It was a fantastic win for the young German, who had twice come close to registering his maiden Tour victory during 2007, in Wales and then in Sweden. But the youngster made no mistake this year at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, leading from start to finish to move himself into the top 35 of the Official World Rankings.

	The 23-year-old – winner of the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year title on The European Tour last season – started the final day with a six-shot lead. His victory was even sweeter as he became the youngest German winner in Tour history. At only 23 years and 24 days he beat the previous record of Bernhard Langer who, at 14 days older than Kaymer, won the 1980 Dunlop Masters. Time will tell if Kaymer is also a Major winner! The German’s final round of 74 resulted in a 15-under-par total of 273 and a winner’s cheque for €225,421 (Ł170,135). He won comfortably in the end, leading the field from the experienced Henrik Stenson of Sweden and England’s Lee Westwood, who both finished at 11-under. This early-season victory gave Kaymer valuable points in his quest to follow Langer’s path into the Ryder Cup team. Clutching the striking falcon-shaped trophy, a symbol of Emirates culture, Kaymer said, “This is an unbelievable feeling. The back nine was tough, especially with players like Stenson and Westwood chasing me. I was struggling a bit on the front nine, but I just tried to stick to my game plan and hit fairways and greens. “For those guys to catch me they had to make birdies and I really tried to stay patient and make pars. It is not easy to do, but I was very proud of the way I handled myself and I am thrilled at the way today worked out.” showed signs of letting others in when he dropped shots at the 4th, 5th and 6th holes. For the likes of Westwood and Stenson, playing in the second-to-last group, directly in front of Kaymer, this seemed the perfect opportunity – especially when at the turn they had both carded a one-under score of 35 to Kaymer’s 39. With the gap beginning to close, the German answered their attack with a birdie at the 554-yard 10th hole. However, a disappointing 4 at the short 12th was to follow. But the match ahead’s surge also began to slow. Westwood parred from the 13th hole until he dropped a shot at the last and Stenson made a birdie at 14 before bogeying 16. This left Kaymer with a comfortable threeshot advantage as he lined up his approach to the 18th green, in full view of the gallery. Every level of golfers is all too familiar with the feeling of mounting pressure to finish off the job. For Kaymer, this pressure lay in the form of not letting another victory slip through his fingers. He reminded the galleries exactly why he had won last year’s rookie award though when he finished with a superb birdie on the last hole, giving him his first title and a name in the record books. With this victory, talk turned to the Ryder Cup and of making the European team that takes on the Americans at Valhalla this year. “I want to win more tournaments, but everybody is already asking me if I want to play in the Ryder Cup,” he said. “Of course I want to play in the Ryder Cup, but I am not expecting it yet. If I could play it would be unbelievable. But the goal for now and the rest of the year is to win more tournaments.” Stenson reflected afterwards, “I have been struggling off the tee all week long and it was no different today; I didn’t hit enough fairways,” said Stenson. “Because of that I haven’t been able to hit my driver enough and I didn’t feel comfortable on the tee. I think that made the difference. If I had a strong driver in the bag, I could have given him a run for his money.”

		Westwood added, “I thought I had a chance up until the end – I mean a two-shot swing can happen any time here – but I was really pleased with the way I played tee to green. I holed from about 15ft on the 2nd but apart from that nothing really happened.” Stenson added: “It is an important year with the Ryder Cup at the end of the season and this brings some good points.”

	Aside from Kaymer, the other winner was undoubtedly Abu Dhabi and its stunning golf course. Great tournaments are judged by great winners and looking at a roll of honour that already includes Chris DiMarco and Paul Casey, the championship is firmly establishing its pedigree.