Ian Poulter has taken out the WGC-HSBC Champions title in China, as Australia&aposs Adam Scott finished in eighth place. Beginning the day four shots behind overnight leaders Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen, Poulter took the lead with back-to-back birdies on 10 and 11 and was able to hold on for the win, finishing on 21 under for the tournament. American Phip Mickelson was joined at 19 under in equal second by his two countrymen Jason Dufner and Scott Piercy, as well as South African Ernie Els. Poulter fired a superb seven-under 65 to take his second title at Mission Hills, five weeks after leading Europe to a spell-binding Ryder Cup triumph in Chicago. Poulter birdied eight of his first 15 holes and was caught in a brief tussle with Mickelson after bogeying the 17th but the American&aposs challenge ended with a poor second shot at 17. The 36-year-old sunk a nine-foot putt for par at the last hole and the win was sealed when Mickelson failed to hole an approach on the 18th for eagle. Westwood led by three early in the final round but double-bogeyed the short fifth and bogeyed three holes on the back nine. He eventually finished in a tie for sixth with fellow overnight leader, South African Louis Oosthuizen, who also carded a disappointing 72. First-round leader Scott, the Australian world number six, finished well with a five-under 67 to finish eighth four strokes off the leader. Scott picked up momentum on the back nine with a trio of birdies on 10, 11 and 12 but after another on 15 to move to 18 under, the 32-year old bogeyed the next hole to extinguish any slim hopes he had. Marc Leishman (70) was the next best of the Australians at 12 under while Scott Hend (68) finished with nine under and John Senden (68) eight under.
Author: Omnisport