Ian Poulter came from four shots behind heading into the final day to capture the WGC – HSBC Champions event at Mission Hills in Shenzhen.
The 36-year hero of last month’s European Ryder Cup team posted a final round seven under par 65 to defeat four players by two strokes on the Olazabal Course.
The popular Englishman had just three bogeys over the four days including back-to-back dropped shots on day two and a 17th hole bogey today.
Ian Poulter plants a kiss on the Old Tom Morris trophy as PGA Commissioner, Tm Finchem and European Tour CEO, George O’Grady look on. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It’s been an amazing six weeks what with winning the Ryder Cup and then coming here in good spirits,” he said.
“I played well last week in Shanghai and took a lot from that by and just doing the right things this week like staying patient I knew I would be right up there.
“So it means just so much to get another win.
“It was a special day but then looking at where Louis (Oosthuizen) was after two days, he was five shots in front but I said the press conference on Wednesday that I felt there was a 10-under par out on the golf course and we saw that yesterday with both an 11-under and a 12-under par scores
“So I knew there was a low round in me out on that golf course, and we saw that yesterday that if you start going low and get a number on the board yo are going to be hard to beat.
“So I’ve just been in good form for quite a while now and it’s good to get my hands on another trophy.”
Victory is Poulter’s second WGC title after capturing the 2010 WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.
As well, Poulter’s Euro 921,375 first prize cheque is the second highest of his career behind the Euro 1.019m he won in winning at Dove Mountain in Arizona.
Poulter’s earnings this year are now Euro 2.270m while his career earnings in Europe now amount to over Euro 17m since making his debut on the Tour in 2000.
It is Poulter’s 12th European Tour win in his 274th Tour start and his first success on the Race to Dubai since winning the Volvo World Match-Play Championship last year in Spain.
Worldwide Poulter has now won 15 times around the globe.
The four players to finish runner-up included Phil Mickelson (68), Jason Dufner (64), Scott Piercy (65) and Ernie Els (67).
Mickelson was looking to capture the event for a third occasion but look back to Friday’s second round and the final hole where he walked off with a double bogey as spoiling his chances of a 47th worldwide win.
Co-overnight leader Lee Westwood carded a disappointing level par 72 to share sixth place with Louis Oosthuizen (72)
