The nearly man has to wait a little longer, but for the journeyman everything has changed in an instant. While Rory McIlroy’s tie for third here at the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday was not quite enough to wrap up the Race to Dubai a week early, Paul Waring, the world No 229 from the Wirral, barged his way into dreamland with a remarkable performance.
On his 332nd appearance on the DP World Tour, the 39-year-old DIY enthusiast took a Black and Decker to the reputations of some of Europe’s biggest names by holding off not only McIlroy, but Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood to scoop the £1.2 million first prize. The rewards do not end there.
Waring has also earned full playing rights on the PGA Tour for the 2025 season, courtesy of a staggering week which saw him set a Tour record (his 19-under total after two rounds was the lowest in relation to par in the 53-year history of the circuit).
His 11-under 61 on Friday was a new low mark for Yas Links and is the best of his 17-year career as a pro. Yet, if anything, this bogeyless six-under 66 for a 24-under total was even more impressive, if one considers the circumstance and surrounding cast list.
Waring had looked nervous on Saturday, as a five-shot advantage was cut down to one, but in the final round he was coolness personified in the desert.
They all came at him. McIlroy got to within one in his 64, as did Hatton, Matt Wallace, Lowry, Fleetwood and others. But the front-runner refused to be overhauled, even when the pressure was at its most intense.
With McIlroy on 21-under, Hatton birdied the 18th from 10 feet to get to 22-under with his own 64. It was the first time in three days that Waring did not hold the outright lead. At that point, he was on the 15th and without a win in six years, the glare and the sun beating down.
“He will do well to enforce a play-off,” seemed the general assessment. Not a bit of it. On the 17th, he stood over a 40-footer for birdie and made the tournament his own, punching the air, as it dropped. On the 18th, he calmly converted a 10-footer for birdie, just to make sure.
“I’m really proud of myself, to actually keep control of myself in the way that I did today,” he said. “I’m a bit taken aback right now. I’m not that emotional on golf courses. I tend not to fist-pump. But on the 17th there, I made an exception. As soon as it left the blade, I knew it was in.”
Waring is one of the popular characters in the locker room. His talent has never been doubted, but he has suffered a few serious injuries over the years that blighted his progress. Everything is up for grabs now, including a shot at the Ryder Cup. Having lived in Dubai for the last few years, does Waring have a decision to make? “I’m quite happy living over here, to be honest with you,” he said. “It’s going to be a long way to travel, a long commute over to America. But I’m absolutely made up.”
Hatton was left to take consolation, following up his win at the Dunhill Links last month with a runner-up placing in this, his next event. The LIV rebel has clocked up some valuable Ryder Cup points and has almost assured himself a berth in next year’s Open. For McIlroy, there was a slightly bitter taste, despite his wonderful conclusion.
The world No 3 triple-bogeyed the 17th on Friday and double-bogeyed the 18th on Saturday. “Of course, I will rue those mistakes,” he said. However, he finished one ahead of Thriston Lawrence and the South African is the only player at the DP World Tour Championship, starting in Dubai on Thursday, who can stop McIlroy lifting a sixth order of merit title.
Lawrence must win and count on McIlroy finishing outside the top 11. The Northern Irishman has christened himself “The Nearly Man” after recent close calls in the US Open, Irish Open and Wentworth. But more meaningful silverware should be but a week away.
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