German golf star Martin Kaymer won the 2.7million dollar Abu Dhabi Golf Championship for an unprecedented third time here on Sunday charging away to win by eight shots. The 26-year-old US PGA Championship titleholder shot a bogey-free round of six-under par 66 for a 24-under-par 264 total, recording only one bogey on his third hole on the opening day.
Kaymer not only won 450,000 dollars, but more importantly, it also took him to second in the world rankings behind England's Lee Westwood, relegating Tiger Woods to third.
The new rankings due to be released on Monday will see Europe holding the top two placings for the first time since Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer were 1-2 in 1993. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who started the day five shots behind Kaymer, fell further back despite shooting a three-under par 69, but his 16-under-par 272 total was two shots better than Retief Goosen of South Africa and another Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, who were tied third at 274.
Goosen shot the day's best round of 64, while US Open champion McDowell closed with a 67. Kaymer said the key to his final round was not to get complacent because of the lead and his determination not to make any bogey.