• Dubai World Championship, Round Four

Play-off agony for Poulter

Ian Poulter claimed his second title in as many weeks © PA Photos

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Robert Karlsson denied Ian Poulter a second title in as many weeks, claiming a play-off victory to win the Dubai World Championship, while Martin Kaymer ended the year as European No. 1 after winning the Race to Dubai.

The world No. 11, who will climb back into the top ten following his second place, was on course for his second straight win after his victory at the Hong Kong Open last week.

He held a two shot lead going into the final day, but came under early pressure from Sweden's Karlsson, whose birdie-birdie-eagle start saw him move up the leaderboard. Although bogeys at four and six halted the Swede's progress, a bogey-free back nine saw him sign for 67 on 14-under-par.

Poulter recovered from a shaky start to maintain his grip, but narrowly missed a birdie putt on the final hole to take the victory, and the title was snatched from his grasp after two play-off holes.

Poulter's third shot onto the green left him with a long shot for birdie, but his hopes came to an end when he incurred a one-stroke penalty before his first putt after dropping his ball onto his marker, causing it to move. Two putts meant a bogey six for Poulter, but the penalty was irrelevant as Karlsson holed his birdie putt to take the titile.

World No. 1 Lee Westwood signed for a 68 to finish on 13-under. Three straight birdies between 14 and 16 helped Westwood move into contention, but he was unable to catch the leaders.

Westwood admitted mistakes earlier in the tournament had cost him a shot at the title. "I didn't really deserve to have a chance the amount of shots I've squandered all week," Westwood said. "It's not been like me at all, I've been very sloppy especially on the greens."

Westwood was tied for third with Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, who finished with two birdies on his final two holes, while Rory McIlroy was a shot further back on 12-under after an eagle at the last.

All eyes were on Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell as the challenge for the European money list reached its climax, but both players finished off the pace in a tie for 13th.

McDowell was the only man who could catch Kaymer in the Race to Dubai, but despite four birdies in his last six holes, he was unable to mount a challenge. McDowell needed a top-three finish to stand a chance of victory, and even a double-bogey six on the 12th could not spoil the German's day as he claimed European golf's top prize.

Paul Casey's 69 saw him tied with Francesco Molinari on 11-under, while Luke Donald finished on eight-under.

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