Kaymer wins with birdie at 18th hole

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Martin Kaymer birdied the final hole Sunday and claimed a 1-stroke victory at the $2.1 million Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

It was the second victory at the European Tour stop in the United Arab Emirates in three years for Kaymer, who was the runner-up last year at Abu Dhabi. It was his fifth European Tour title overall.

Kaymer's short putt for a 4 at the 557-yard finishing hole allowed him to edge Ian Poulter, who was up by a stroke with six holes to go. Both players shot 6-under-par 66 Sunday with Kaymer's 72-hole total at 21-under 267. Poulter ended at 20-under.

Rory McIlroy was third at 19-under and Shane Lowry fourth another two strokes back.

Kaymer didn't commit a bogey in the final round but Poulter was able to grab the lead with six birdies over his first 12 holes.

Poulter started the day with three consecutive birdies and was tied with Kaymer, who also birdied Nos. 1 and 2 but parred the third hole. Both players had birdies at the sixth hole and Kaymer took the advantage with a birdie at No. 8.

Poulter went ahead with birdies at Nos. 11-12. Kaymer pulled back into a tie for the lead at 14 and dropped the putt at 18 for the win and a first-place check for more than $353,000.