Poulter Claims Hong Kong Open

Poulter wins in Hong Kong to join the Dubai Race

He went 22-under par total and then raised the USB Hong Kong trophy over his head. Ian Poulter, who won ten European Tour title in caree, finished the final round carding 67 to win the Open one stroker ahead of English compatriot Simon Dyson. Poulter dominated the the tournament after he went 60 in the second round, hitting few of his best shots recently. But still, Poulter suffered a tough challenge from Dyson, winner in 2000, the last one going into the lead after he birdied the seventh hole finishing the day five under.

But Poulter finished three-under-par 67 to go top, while Dyson dropped second position which he shared with 17-year-old Italian Matteo Manasseros who also went 21 under par. Poulter looked the more delighted with the trophy the recent weeks didn’t go as he expected. With this win, the 34-year-old rejoins the top 10 elite, claiming his 12^th professional title after he performed an eagle at the 13^th. Poulter finally won a trophy after he was also pretty close to do it at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, but also at the Singapore Open. “But I’ve played great all week this week and today I actually played better to shoot three under than I did in shooting 10 under on Friday. It’s nice to be back inside the top 10 on the rankings especially after being number five earlier this year in winning the Match-Play Championship,” he said.

One of the biggest surprises was for no doubt the Ialian teenager. Manassero is the youngest European Tour winner after he held the Castello Masters in Spain in October. With three birdies and an eagle on the ninth, he went eight-under-par 62, thing which didn’t upset him, but on the contrary, the Italian looked pleased with the Chinese performance. “I made some great shots, so I’m very happy actually the way I played and the way I tried to catch the leaders,” said Manassero.

Graeme McDowell finished fifth, the US Open winner finishing 68 in the last round, while Anthony Kang went fourth with five-under-par 65. Finally, Rory McIlroy finished sixth with 67 in the final round. This trophy enriched Poluter with $2,7 million and he will be the fifth to start in the Race in Dubai next year as the first three are Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and top spot Lee Westwood, who will make the trip to Dubai for defensing his title.11