Final leaderboard (par 72)* -21: I Poulter (Eng)* -19: J Dufner (US), S Piercy (US), E Els (SA)* -18: L Oosthuizen (SA), L Westwood (Eng) * Selected others: -17: A Scott (Aus) -16: M Kaymer (Ger) -14 B Snedeker (US)-12 L Donald (Eng); -10: K Bradley (US)SHENZHEN – Ian Poulter secured his first win of the year with a closing round of 65 at the WGC Champions in Shenzhen.The Englishman, 36, who won his four games in Europe’s Ryder Cup win in September, produced eight birdies in his first 15 holes to take control.Overnight leaders Lee Westwood and Louis Oosthuizen only managed rounds of level par, and Poulter came from four shots back to win by two. Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson were in a four-way tie for second. United States duo Jason Dufner and Scott Piercy also finished two shots behind Poulter.Poulter, who finished fourth at the BMW Masters last week, said: “It’s been an amazing five or six weeks with the Ryder Cup and then coming here in good spirits.“I played well last week and took a lot from that. I knew that if I stayed patient I’d be right there at the end. “It was a special day. I knew there was a good round of golf in me out there on that golf course.“I feel confident with the putter right now. It’s so nice to get my hands on another trophy and get back in the winner’s circle.”Westwood led by three shots in the early stages but a double bogey at the short fifth stopped his momentum, before three bogeys on the back nine ended his hopes and he finished tied sixth with Oosthuizen.Poulter led by three after 15 holes but a bogey on 17 and a poor second shot into the sand on his final hole gave Mickelson an opening.But Poulter holed a nine-foot par putt, meaning that the American’s chances ended when he failed to hole his approach on the 18th.Agencies
