Tommy Fleetwood waited for three years to play like he did on the final nine Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
It’s been that long since the young Brit has won on the European Tour but he finished his comeback with a 31 coming home and that earned him a one-shot victory at the HSBC Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Fleetwood started the day a shot off the overnight lead held by fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton. But it was Martin Kaymer who got it going early and by the eighth hole, the two-time major champion had put up four birdies and got himself to 16-under par. At that point, Fleetwood found himself four back.
“I just thought keep going, you never know,” was what Fleetwood told himself. He got it into high gear when he pitched in for eagle at the par five 10th then followed that up with a birdie at 11 that got him to 15-under par and right in the thick of the battle. Fleetwood took over the lead with a beautiful iron shot at the 472-yard 16th that left him just nine feet for birdie and he drained it to go 16-under. At the final hole, he hooked his drive but ended up in good enough shape to launch a beautiful three-wood that left him just 30 feet from the hole. He two-putted to post 17-under and he needed it.
Dustin Johnson hit a super second into 18 and drained a 12-footer for eagle to get to 16-under and his playing partner Pablo Larazabal made birdie to finish tied for second with D.J.
“The chip-in on 10 and the birdie on 11 changed everything, all of a sudden from nowhere, I was leading,” Fleetwood said afterward with a huge smile. ”
Fleetwood was the best of all the contenders, hitting good shot after good shot and finally he had his second career win.
“I had a really hard time from July 2015 to July last year where I really struggled with my game. It’s been an awkward curve. I thought maybe the second win would come sooner to be honest. It’s been a massive comeback.”
