ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Paul Waring carded a 6-under 66 to win the Abu Dhabi Championship for the biggest victory of his career on Sunday. The 229th-ranked Englishman was one stroke ahead overnight and finished on 24 under. He even surprised himself at how smoothly the fourth and final round went.

Journeyman Paul Waring of England birdied the final two holes to fend off late challenges from Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy and win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Dubai-based Paul Waring held off a stellar chasing pack to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and claim his first Rolex Series title. The Englishman displayed nerves of steel in his bogey-free closing 66 as he got to 24 under par and two shots ahead of four-time Rolex Series winner and current LIV Golfer Tyrrell Hatton,

Rory McIlroy’s charge at the Abu Dhabi Championship has faltered after he found water off his drive and made double bogey on the last hole of his third round.

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,