Howell claims season-opener in Shanghai
Sunday, 13 November 2005 12:53Englishman David Howell fended off a tenacious challenge from world number one Tiger Woods to win the $5 million HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai on Sunday for his fourth career title.
Overnight leader Howell, ranked 19th in the world, carded a final round four-under-par 68 to finish at 20-under, three shots ahead of Woods, and claim the winner's cheque of 833,300 dollars in the 2006 European Tour season-opener.
Woods, who began the day one shot off the lead, carded a 70, his worst round of the tournament at Shanghai's Sheshan International Golf Club.
England's Nick Dougherty, co-leader with Howell after two rounds, finished at 14-under-par after a disappointing 73 to take third place alongside Australian Nick O'Hern, who was tied with Woods going into the final round.
World number two Vijay Singh and Thomas Bjorn shared fifth spot in Asia's richest-ever tournament at 13-under.
Paul Casey ended a stroke further back after a final round of 68, while Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, tied for eighth at 11-under with Frenchman Jean-Francois Remesy.
Padraig Harrington closed with a four-under 68 to finish 13 shots adrift, while Graeme McDowell was a further five shots off the pace. Irish number two Paul McGinley hit a disappointing 78 to finish the tournament on four-over.
