30 Jan 2012

Rock upstages superstars in Abu Dhabi

6:00 am on 30 January 2012

The unheralded English golfer Robert Rock upstaged several world superstars including Tiger Woods to win the European Tour's Abu Dhabi Championship.

Playing alongside Woods, the world's 17th ranked player fired a closing two-under par 70 to finish 13-under par, one stroke ahead of Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, with another shot back to Woods, the Dane Thomas Bjorn, and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.

It was a stunning win against the odds for Rock who had admitted to feeling starry-eyed after learning on Saturday he'd be playing alongside Woods in the final round.

It was just his second tournament win in 228 attempts, following his win in the Italian Open last year.

For Woods it was a bitter blow as he had looked set to win a full tournament for the first time since November 2009.