The 39-year-old had seized control with a sensational 61 at Yas Links on Friday, establishing a five-shot lead at the halfway point. However, after a 73 on Saturday, his lead was cut to a single stroke. Feeling some nerves on day three, Waring steadied himself with an error-free final round, delivering a flawless 66.

The competition intensified with heavyweights like Rory McIlroy, the Race to Dubai frontrunner, four-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton, and former Open Champion Shane Lowry mounting pressure during a thrilling final round. Waring’s response to Hatton’s challenge came with a crucial 40-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, maintaining his momentum and ultimately earning him the $1.53 million prize.

Reflecting on the victory, Waring shared that it was immensely meaningful, elevating his position to fifth in the Race to Dubai Rankings and positioning him well for one of the ten PGA TOUR cards available for 2025.

“I’m really proud of how I managed myself today,” Waring expressed, adding praise for his caddie, Alex Evans, and his playing partners. Known for his calm demeanor on the course, he admitted that the solid par save on the 15th instilled confidence, and the memorable putt on 17 felt destined to go in from the moment it left his putter. Though his approach on the 18th initially went longer than anticipated, he refocused, sinking the final putt to secure his triumph.

Over the past year, Waring has felt his game was close to peaking, and everything finally aligned this week – solid putting, accurate approach shots, and strong tee work made for a standout performance.

The tournament saw McIlroy start aggressively with four birdies in his first six holes, while Waring matched with back-to-back birdies at the start and an impressive par save at the fourth. Other English players, Matthew Jordan and Matt Wallace, closed in with eagles, while McIlroy faltered with a couple of missed putts.

Waring continued to hold off the competition, adding a birdie on the tenth to maintain his lead. Lowry posed a significant challenge but stumbled with a bogey on the 14th, while Hatton made a late charge, posting two birdies on the last holes to reach 22 under, tying Waring’s score momentarily.

Waring’s pivotal 40-foot birdie on the 17th and his impeccable finish on the 18th solidified his win at 24 under par. Hatton finished second with a remarkable 64, while McIlroy, Olesen, and Wallace tied for third at 21 under.