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Scrivener stars, Hatton wins in Abu Dhabi

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Tyrrell Hatton was in a class of his own as he won the lucrative Abu Dhabi Championship.
Camera IconTyrrell Hatton was in a class of his own as he won the lucrative Abu Dhabi Championship.

Tyrrell Hatton produced an excellent final round to win the Abu Dhabi Championship by four strokes as Australian Jason Scrivener delivered a quite dazzling last nine holes to finish as runner-up.

England's Hatton carded a closing 66 to finish 18-under par, secure a sixth European Tour title and fourth in the lucrative Rolex Series, a victory which will go a long way towards securing a second Ryder Cup appearance in September.

Behind him, Perth's 31-year-old Scrivener also fired a 66, recording an eagle and five birdies in a startling back nine of 29 to claim the runner's up spot on 14-under.

Rory McIlroy, who had gone into the final round a shot clear, again fell short, finishing a shot behind Scrivener following a disappointing 72.

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For the South African-born Scrivener, it was a brilliant start to the season, playing in his first tournament for two months, as he enjoyed the biggest pay-day of his career, a cool $US880,880 ($A1.1 million) while Hatton scooped $US1,333,330 ($A1.7 million).

"I'm definitely pinching myself, it's just very surreal to be that high in the world rankings," Hatton said, after moving to fifth, one place ahead of McIlroy.

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"I'm struggling to find the words to put it across but I'll just say it is very cool to be where I am at the moment."

McIlroy made a good start, doubling his lead thanks to birdies on the second and third, but he three-putted the fourth and also dropped a shot on the par-five eighth following a poor drive.

Playing partner Hatton matched McIlroy's birdie on the second and also picked up shots on the seventh and ninth to reach the turn with a two-shot lead.

McIlroy looked certain to close the gap when he found the par-five 10th in two, inches closer to the hole than Hatton was in three, but Hatton holed from 35 feet for an unlikely birdie and McIlroy two-putted for his.

"That was going eight foot past and it's hit the hole," Hatton admitted. "That's huge and then my tee shot on 11 has pitched in the side of the bunker and come out. We've seen plugged lies in lips this week so that was another bit of good fortune."

There was nothing fortunate about the birdies on the 13th and 16th which made certain of victory and set Hatton well on his way to qualifying for the European team which will defend the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in September.

"It's massive," added Hatton, who began the week by poking fun at his fiery temperament by starring in a hit European Tour video titled "Angry Golfers" alongside the likes of Ian Poulter, Tommy Fleetwood and Henrik Stenson.

McIlroy now has four second-place finishes, four thirds and a fifth in his last 10 starts in Abu Dhabi, but will be disappointed at failing to claim his first win since November 2019, especially after starting with a superb 64.

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