Paul Waring’s legs were shaking over his final putt.
The 39-year-old from England had been calm and collected all week at the 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links, including his course record 11-under 61 in Friday’s second round. Even after a 1-over performance on Moving Day, Waring had everything in front of him for a career-changing win Sunday.
Wobbly but planted, Waring’s legs held on as he poured in a birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole to give him a two-shot victory over Tyrrell Hatton. It’s his second DP World Tour win of his career and first in six years. It’s also significant because it moves him to fifth in the Race to Dubai rankings, meaning he’s guaranteed to lock up a PGA Tour card for 2025 following the conclusion of next week’s DP World Tour Championship.
“It was quite an easy day really, wasn’t it,” Waring said after the win. “It just means so much to so many other things that come with that win. That said, early in the week, to actually keep control of myself in the way that I did today I’m really proud of myself.”
Waring held off a charging Hatton, who shot 8-under 64 on Sunday, as well as Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy, who finished three shots back.
Tied with Hatton on the 17th hole, Waring poured in a 40-foot, 10-inch birdie putt to take a one-shot lead. On the 18th, his second shot went long on the par-5, leaving him a bit of work to secure the win.
“I was absolutely fine until — I’ll be honest with you, I thought the second shot into 18 was absolutely perfect. To see it go long was, right, I’ve still got business, still got stuff to do,” Waring said.
“So got my head back on. Legs were shaking a little bit over that last putt. I just wanted to make sure that nothing else could happen and great to roll that one in on the last as well.”
He was able to get his third shot on the green, and Waring poured in the final putt, and the career week for the lifelong DP World Tour player was complete.
“I don’t want to sound over the top or anything but I felt like my golf game has been in such a good place over the last year,” Waring said. “Just haven’t put it all together. And then this week arrives and you know what, a week for it all to come together, putting nicely, approach play was great, great off the tee. It’s nice to put it all together and get a tournament like this.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: A career week in Abu Dhabi guaranteed this DP World Tour lifer a PGA Tour card in 2025
