150-1 Rock stays strong for Abu Dhabi success

ROBERT ROCK, 150-1 before the off at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, stayed strong in a final threeball that included Tiger Woods, and in defiance of several other quality Sunday challenges, to triumph in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by one shot.

Rock, who won his maiden European Tour title last year at the Italian Open, carded a two-under par 70 to hold off US Open champion Rory McIlroy with his 13-under par total.

And his bogey - following a penalty drop - at the last was done safe in the knowledge that he had two strokes in hand on McIlroy, 15-2 second-favourite at the outset behind 7-1 defending champion Martin Kaymer, who hit a closing 69 that only contained one bogey.   

Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, and Thomas Bjorn finished tied for third on 11 under alongside 14-timesMajor-winner Woods.

McDowell aced the 12th and birdied the last two holes for a final round 68 while Bjorn maintained Saturday's magnificent form with no dropped shots for the same score.

But Woods struggled down the stretch, hitting only one fairway in a back nine that contained eight pars after a bogey six at the tenth. Bogeys at four and five had undermined the bright start of birdies at two and three too.

BetVictor reacted to Tiger's rare tame finish - it was only the ninth time in his career that he has not secured the spoils when leading or sharing the lead after 54 holes - by easing him to 4-1 from 10-3 for the Masters (Betfred are biggest at 9-2) and going 6-4 that he claims a 15th Majorthis year.

McIlroy, 8-1 for Augusta glory, returned to No. 2 in the world behind Luke Donald and is 10-3 with Betfred to triumph in the Race To Dubai. Donald is 5-1, Kaymer is 6-1 and Lee Westwood, who defied neck and shoulder niggles, to go 68 70 over the weekend is 15-2.

BetVictor offer 11-10 that Europe wins the most Major titles this year with USA at 6-5 and Rest of the World at 5-1. The firm also go 7-4 that there is an English winner of a Major (2-5 not).

Read Tuesday's Racing Post for Steve Palmer's 19th Hole- the column that highlights everything important in the world of golf betting