Golf: Woods falters as Rock wins title

ABU DHABI: Britain’s Robert Rock won his head-to-head duel with Tiger Woods to lift the Abu Dhabi Championship title after the former world number one produced his worst performance of the week. The two players started the day in a tie for the lead and it was the little-known Rock who held his nerve on the final day to collect his second European Tour victory with a closing 70 for 275, 13 under.  Woods’ game unravelled as he finished joint third with a 72 for 277 while world number three Rory McIlroy (69) finished second on 276. “I can’t believe I did that today,” said Rock. “I was just happy to be playing alongside Woods – that was a special honour in itself.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2012.