Waring books passage to America
English graybeard cashes in with Abu Dhabi win; Day says LIV courtship never launched
Paul Waring holds off European elite to notch his biggest career triumph (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Paul Waring scored his biggest career victory on Sunday at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
A secondary win was just as big, of not bigger.
The 39-year-old Englishman held off a slew of big names including Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy to win for just the second time on the DP World Tour and the first time in more than six years since the 2018 Nordea Masters.
The victory in the first of two DP World Tour playoff events all but assured him of a spot on the PGA Tour next year as the top 10 players after next week’s DP World Tour Championship not otherwise exempt earn full 2025 exemptions across the Atlantic.
“I think I played under so much control, the best golf of my life, so that’s one of the best feelings of my life,” said Waring, who had taken control of the event on Friday with a course-record 61 at Yas Links.
But Waring’s five-shot 36-hole lead was reduced to just one following a 73 on Saturday. A closing 66 helped him hold off the hard-charging Hatton, who got to the clubhouse tied for the lead before Waring made a 40-footer for birdie at the 17th and then added another at the 18th for a two-shot victory.
McIlroy, who leads the Race to Dubai and is seeking a sixth Order of Merit title, finished third and in good shape to secure the victory next week in Dubai. Thriston Lawrence, who tied for sixth a shot behind McIlroy in Abu Dhabi, would need to win the season-ending tournament and see McIlroy finish outside of the top 10 to overtake him.
“I do feel in a good position,” said McIlroy. “I saw Thriston making a charge today, and I was keeping one eye on the leaderboard and looking at what he was doing. I saw he posted 20 (under). Every shot counts at this moment in time, and I was glad to make the four at the last and at least give myself half a chance at this tournament this week, but also give myself a little bit more of a cushion going into Dubai next week as well.”
Waring secured his future on the DP World Tour but now will also have the opportunity to play for the first time in America via an exemption category put in place last year.
While controversial, it proved to be a popular move and saw European players such as Mathieu Pavon and Robert MacIntyre win events while several of their peers retained their playing cards for 2025.
Waring used the opportunity to offer encouragement to countryman Andy Sullivan, who needs a big week in Dubai in order to vault into the top-10.
“I just want him to have the week of his life now, next week, so he can join me on the PGA Tour next year,” said Waring, who moved up 43 spots into fifth place in the Race to Dubai rankings.
“I hope the pair of us (Sullivan) can head over to America and see what is going on over there. It’s a new chapter, new challenge and it’s something new. I want to see if I like it and see how much I enjoy it. I love the DP World Tour. I love the people and have some great mates, but it’s another chapter for me, especially with my advanced age.”
Waring will join Lawrence and Rasmus Højgaard, who also secured their cards for next year on the PGA Tour, with the remaining spots to be determined this week.
Why Day stayed? LIV never offered
So now we know why Jason Day didn’t go to LIV Golf. Because the league didn’t offer him a deal?
That’s not to say the Aussie would have joined the rival circuit, but the 2015 PGA Championship winner told Australian Golf Digest that his agent had investigated the situation but he was never extended an offer.