England’s Paul Waring came into the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship looking to improve his season but now has the golfing world as his oyster after his life-changing Rolex Series victory.
Waring entered the DP World Tour Play-Offs for the first time 48th in the season-long standings and initially only wanted to stay in the top 50 to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship, the final event of the campaign and played in his hometown of Dubai.
His hopes were boosted after he followed up his opening round 64 with a course-record 61, giving him a five-shot advantage over the star-studded leaderboard, before holding a one-stroke lead going into the final day at Yas Links though third. – Round 73.
Waring cruised to a memorable victory with a birdie on the final hole
The 39-year-old then showed nerves of steel with a bogey-free 66 on the final day, with a birdie-birdie finish seeing him finish two shots clear of Tyrrell Hatton and claim his first worldwide victory since 2018.
“Pretty easy today, right?” Waring said about the success of his victory. “It just means so much. To actually be in control of myself the way I’m doing now, I’m really proud of myself.”
Waring’s second DP World Tour title came in his 332nd appearance
Waring’s parachute victory puts him fifth in the Race to Dubai standings and will earn him a lucrative PGA Tour card, with the top 10 players in the final rankings – not yet exempt – earning dual membership for next season.
Waring punches tickets to the PGA Tour
The Birkenhead-born golfer has been part of the DP World Tour since earning his card at the Qualifying School in 2007 but has just one win to his name, the 2018 Nordea Masters in his 200th start, due to injuries throughout the season.
Waring posted six top-10 finishes a year later as he reached a career high of world No. 66, only to struggle the next two seasons before claiming a second DP World Tour title in 2022.
The result tied for third and tied for sixth was among the top five ten in 2024 before the victory in Abu Dhabi, which earned more than €1,400,000 – more in one event than the annual income for every season except 2019 in the DP World Tour.
“I have knocked on the door,” Waring explained. “I’ve had a few seconds. I’ve been in and around a few times. To pass the line again is fantastic and to control it is the way I have it too, especially today.
Waring cruised to a memorable victory with a birdie on the final hole
“I thought I was going to let it go (in the third round) but to stay on top like I did, I knew I wasn’t going to have two days in a row playing like that. I think I have more gear like that. I need it.
“I don’t want to sound over the top or anything, but I feel like my golf game has improved a lot over the last year. I just haven’t put it all together. And get a tournament like this.”
Waring handles new pressure in Abu Dhabi
Hatton, Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy and British duo Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Wallace were all in the chasing pack on a thrilling final day in Abu Dhabi, with Waring hitting a 40-foot birdie on the 17th to take advantage of the par-five. last to seal his victory.
“A lot of players and a lot of us in the media are asking if Waring can get over the line and win,” Sky Sports’ Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley said. “Not because of his talent, but because of the quality of the people behind him putting pressure on him.
“He really has nothing. This is a life-changing victory for Waring. Not only financially, but it will significantly increase his world ranking and help him get back to the majors.
“It looks like it’s going to take him to the PGA Tour and it’s going to see him play some big events in 2025, so there’s a lot to look forward to for him. , that’s for sure.
“When you bounce your grandson on your knee and ask you ‘What did you win?’, he can say ‘I won in Abu Dhabi, I won against the best player in the world’. There is Rory McIlroy on the course, a major champion everywhere and he beat him to win the event proper.”
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Rory McIlroy closed out the Race to Dubai victory despite four runners-up on the DP World Tour in 2024
‘New chapter’ in Waring’s career
Waring now faces the prospect of splitting his time between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour next year, which could pose logistical challenges but provide a golfing opportunity that he enjoys.
“I’m quite happy living in Dubai, to be honest with you,” Waring said. “It’s going to be a long way to travel, a long commute over to America. But I’m looking forward to it. Really made it.”
Waring then added to the DP World Tour: “This (PGA Tour) is a new chapter, a new challenge and something new for me to find out if I like it and see how I like it.
“I like the DP World Tour, I like it a lot. I like the people and I like playing here and I have a lot of good friends, but it’s another thing for me now – especially at my age.”
Waring will also have one in a possible push to qualify for the Ryder Cup next year, propelling himself into consideration for the European side of Luke Donald with the Abu Dhabi victory, with Riley interested to see how he tackles the competition in the two tours.
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Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir heads to New York to find out what Team Europe will do at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
“This (win) will push him (Waring) forward,” added Riley. “We have to remember that 39 years old is not old in the modern game. Rewards are something to be achieved and he, after all the work he has done, can get them.
“I’ve done it myself, played golf on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour and it’s been tough. Is he going to do a lot? He might not, but I’m sure he’s going to play some. Two years locked up on the DP World Tour now, so he can go and live in America full time.
Who will win the Race to Dubai? Watch this week’s DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports Golf. Live coverage starts on Thursday at 7am on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or DP World Tour streams and more with NOW.
