Casey hangs on to win Abu Dhabi Championship

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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Paul Casey ended his two-year title drought Sunday by beating defending champion Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen by one stroke at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

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Paul Casey captured his ninth title on the European Tour.

Casey, who last won a tournament at the 2007 Abu Dhabi event, shot a 2-under 70 despite three bogeys on the back nine to finish at 21-under 267 total.

"I have missed winning for the last two years, so this one is very special," said Casey, who won for the ninth time on the European Tour.

Oosthuizen, who started the day seven shots behind Casey, equaled the day's best round at 8-under 64. Sergio Garcia, who finished tied for eighth at 272, also shot a 64.

"I am quite happy with the way I played," said Oosthuizen, a 26-year-old South African. "Obviously, if I could have made it to a playoff, it would have been better. But if someone had told me I'd be 20-under par, I would have taken it."

Kaymer (67) rolled in a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th to finish tied for second.

Anthony Wall (67) was fourth at 270, and a further stroke back in a tie for fifth was Padraig Harrington (66), Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy (65) and Johan Edfors (67).

Casey, who had the lead heading into the final round, started with a pair of birdies Sunday and soon stretched his lead to six shots with birdies at Nos. 6, 8 and 10. But bogeys on the 11th, 13th and 14th, and birdies by Oosthuizen on the 15th and 18th, made it close.

"I was really getting nervous over the back nine," Casey said. "I never once looked at the leaderboard throughout the round, but I was aware where Martin was, and I was sure someone must have done better than him.

"And then I saw Oosthuizen's smiling face on the big screen near the 18th and I knew he had done something special. When I finally looked at the leaderboard after reaching the 18th green, I heaved a sigh of relief that I still had two putts to win the tournament."