Jamie Donaldson pips Justin Rose to desert victory

Jamie Donaldson came from two shots back to defeat overnight leader Justin Rose on a dramatic final day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

The Welshman carded five birdies to go two shots clear but three-putted the last to give England's Rose and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen in the final group the chance to force a playoff.

Olesen's 15-footer slid by before Rose's birdie chance lipped out from 12 feet to hand Donaldson his second European Tour title.

"It's pretty surreal really, I've played really good all week although I've got away with murder up the last," said Donaldson after his closing 68 on the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf club.

"I thought one of them would hole if not both, but when both putts slipped by it was my week."

The 37-year-old had waited 11 years and 255 golf tournaments to record his first win last year at the Irish Open.

"It’s like buses isn’t it?" said Donaldson, who moves into second in the Race to Dubai standings and inside the top 30 in the world golf rankings.

Donaldson finished on 14-under-par to take the title, with Rose (71) and Olesen (69) back on 13-under and Portugal's Ricardo Santos (68) in fourth on 11-under.

South Africa's Branden Grace shot a superb seven-under 65 to finish in fifth on ten-under, while England's David Howell (71) had to settle for sixth place with German Martin Kaymer (69) and Dutchman Joost Luiten (67).

Howell raced into the lead with five birdies in the first ten holes before a bogey on the short 12th put the brakes on his charge.

He then splashed out of the sand on the 13th to within four feet and, somehow, four-putted from there for a triple-bogey seven.

Rose, who had led from his opening round 67, returns to fourth in the world golf rankings with his runner-up finish.

"I didn't do a lot wrong. It's hard to beat yourself up about it," said the Englishman, before adding: "But was a long, hard week to end up finishing second."

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