Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA: Final day as it happened - Shane Lowry is the champion

A sweet moment for Shane Lowry as he lifts the Falcon Trophy to celebrate becoming the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA winner for 2019. The simple facts are that he started the day leading by three shots, was trailing by four after 11 holes, was back level on the 16th and then won it on 18th. One of the best finishes in the tournament's history and Richard Sterne, who is runner-up, played his part in a great day. That concludes our live updates. Please stay on the site and keep an eye out for Paul Radley's report from the action. Shane Lowry is the 2019 winner of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA. The Irishman holds his nerve on the 18th as he birdies the hole to finish on -18 and that gives him the title from Richard Sterne. Lowry had started the day three ahead of Sterne, but an impressive start from the South African helped him open up a four-shot lead by the 11th hole. But Lowry hit back and he drew level on the 16th hole after a Sterne bogey before he triumphed on the final hole. So after 71 holes it is effectively sudden death between Richard Sterne and Shane Lowry. They are tied on -17 with just the par-five 18 to come. It has been a thrilling duel and is there a final twist in the tale? Two holes remaining and Richard Sterne and Shane Lowry are back level at the top on -17. Sterne bogies the 16th and Lowry holes a trick par putt and it is back to level pegging. High drama here and two holes to decide the winner. It was a four-shot lead for Richard Sterne after 11 holes. It is now down to just one with three holes to go. A bogey at the 14th drops him to -18, with Shane Lowry on -17 following two birdies at the 12th and 13th that has got him back in the hunt. Both men have parred the 15th and things are getting very tense and an exciting last 30 minutes is in the offing. Having led for so much of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA it will be undeniably a disappointment for Shane Lowry if he does not win the title. But he has given himself hope. Having fallen four behind after bogeying the 11th, he has hit back with birdies at the 12th and 13th and he is now two behind Richard Sterne on -17 with five holes to go. Dutchman Joost Luiten has eagled the last to be the clubhouse leader on -15 as he now sits on his own in third spot. He will almost certainly not win but that is a great effort all the same. Shane Lowry's challenge is beginning to capitulate. A fourth bogey of the round comes at the 11th hole and the Irishman is now four behind Richard Sterne with only seven holes remaining. Sterne has parred his past two holes and is cruising along on -19 and looks like a champion elect as things stand. His South African compatriot Louis Oosthuizen is up on his own in third on -14, but with only one hole to go for him he needs Sterne and Lowry to have a seriously drastic slump in form in the closing holes. The ninth hole of the final hole may well have been the moment that Richard Sterne clinched the 2019 Abu Dhabi title. He birdied the hole to move up to -19 but Shane Lowry bogies it to fall to -16. A one-shot lead is suddenly up to three. It has been a six-shot swing on the front nine as remember Lowry started the day leading by three shots. The Irishman now has nine holes to turn it around but Sterne is five under for the day and in great form so it is looking like a big ask. A South African has never won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA before but Richard Sterne is doing his best to change that. He has just birdied the eighth to move one clear of Shane Lowry at the top on -18. It still looks as if it will be private duel between this pair, but Louis Oosthuizen is now only five off Sterne, albeit with four holes to go off his round. This is going to be a long afternoon for both Richard Sterne and Shane Lowry. The pair are now locked on -17 at the top of the leaderboard. Sterne had taken the lead for the first time in the event on the fifth hole, but he then dropped back level with Lowry at the next hole with a bogey. Ian Poulter has moved to within four of the leaders in third on -13 with a birdie at the seventh, while Louis Oosthuizen is making a late charge as he up to -12 after 13 holes. For the first time this week Richard Sterne is in the outright lead. The South African has made a blistering start and a fourth birdie on the fifth hole takes him to -18. That puts him ahead of Shane Lowry, who bogeyed the fifth hole to drop back to -17. A lot of golf still to be played but the momentum is with Sterne. You cannot accuse Shane Lowry and Richard Sterne of not being up for this final day in Abu Dhabi. They have both come out of the traps flying. Sterne birdied his first three holes to get up to -17, and briefly be level with Lowry, but a birdie on the fourth has put the overnight leader one ahead again. Lowry had started himself with a birdie, but then bogeyed the third. This is already looking like a private fight for victory at the front with third-place pair Ian Poulter and Soren Kjeldsen six shots off Lowry. Richard Sterne has made a great start as birdies at the first two holes have moved him to two shots of leader Shane Lowry. Lowry birdied the first himself, but he has still seen his playing partner gain ground on him despite now being on -18. Soren Kjeldsen has also started well, picking up two shots in the first four holes. The Dane is now on -12, level in third spot with Ian Poulter, who has dropped back to that score after bogeying the third hole. Meanwhile, world No 3 Dustin Johnson has finished in style with his best score of the week at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, The American hit 67 to finish on -9, which at present is part of a group of nine players sharing ninth spot. Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood carded a 70 to finish on -5. The final pairing of leader Shane Lowry and his nearest challenger Richard Sterne have teed off to start their final round. Ian Poulter, who began the day in third spot, has started well with a birdie to move to -13 - four off Lowry's lead. The man really on the move is Tom Lewis. The Englishman is six under after 12 holes to be -12 for the tournament. While he only has six holes remaining, Lewis if he can finish well can put in a strong clubhouse total that could yet prove to be a factor if nerves hit the front runners later on. __________ South African Justin Walters has moved into the top 10 as a birdie on the eighth has moved him to -9 and a share of ninth place. We are just under an hour away from leader Shane Lowry beginning his final round. Best performer so far is Scott Hend. The Australian has completed his final round with a five under 67 and that leaves him on -7 in the standings in a tie for 25th. Meanwhile, have a look at this fun video short from the European Tour in which Tommy Fleetwood and Henrik Stenson both show impressive acting skills. It is a somewhat overcast morning in Abu Dhabi. Conditions may well have cleared up by the time leader Shane Lowry hits the course at 12.50pm, but even if they have not it is unlikely to deter him. Friday's third round was hit by windy conditions and Lowry excelled in them as his 67 helped him stretch his lead at the top to three shots. Lowry had said on Friday night: "I felt very comfortable out there and I'm happy with that. Obviously I'm in a great position. It's been a while since I've been up having a lead going into [the final day]. I'll enjoy it." To catch up on a full report of Friday's third round, check out Paul Radley's report here . Martin Kaymer is the most successful player in the history of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA with three titles to his name. A fourth one is not coming his way in 2019 but he has at least started his final round well. He has birdied the second, third and fourth holes to be three under after four holes and -7 for the tournament. That is still 10 shots off leader Shane Lowry but a strong finish could still get the German into the top 10. ____________ Leader Shane Lowry is in the final group on the course, with nearest challenger Richard Sterne. They do not tee off until 12.50pm. A full list of the playing schedule for Saturday's final day of action at Abu Dhabi Golf Club can be found below. ___________ Read more Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA: Final round groups and tee times ___________ Good morning! The final day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA is under way and we should know in around eight hours who will be going home with the Falcon Trophy. Shane Lowry looks the man most likely to achieve that. The Irishman has been in front, or had a share of the lead, since Wednesday lunchtime and his five-under 67 has left him three clear on -17 ahead of his final round. South African Richard Sterne is his nearest challenger on -14, with Ian Poulter on -12 and Pablo Larrazabal on -11 also in the mix. The opening groups are already on the course and conditions look promising for some low scores. Scott Hend (-4), Sam Horsfield (-4) and Zander Lombard (+2) are among the players who are two under in their rounds. Stay with The National as the day unfolds for all the action and updates. ___________ Read more Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA: Final round groups and tee times Conditions prove to be a breeze for Shane Lowry as he extends lead in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA: Day 3 as it happened Hole-by-hole guide to Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA Players try to adjust to new rules at Abu Dhabi ___________

Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA: Final day as it happened - Shane Lowry is the champion

News from the last day of action at Abu Dhabi Golf Club as Lowry becomes Ireland's first winner of the tournament