• Honda Classic, Round Four

Sabbatini holds nerve to win sixth PGA Tour title

Rory Sabbatini held off YE Yang to win his first tournament in two years © PA Photos

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Rory Sabbatini put his recent health problems behind him to claim a sixth PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic in Florida, holding off the challenge of YE Yang to triumph by a single stroke, while Lee Westwood failed to regain the world No. 1 ranking as he finished tied 29th.

Sabbatini, who underwent surgery for skin cancer three months ago, began the day five clear and by the eighth hole, which he reached in one-under, his lead remained a healthy five shots. A string of pars and two bogeys then rocked him, however, as he saw his advantage trimmed to one shot.

Playing partner Yang birdied the 13th and 15th to pile the pressure on Sabbatini but he responded with a long birdie putt at the par-four 16th to stay in the driving seat. Play was briefly suspended due to a thunder storm, with Yang looking the more assured when the action resumed.

Yang, who won the tournament in 2009, holed a 10-foot putt to save par on 17 before he got up and down from the sand for birdie at the last. But Sabbatini wasn't to be denied, however, the 34-year-old holding his nerve to drain a solid par to sign for a 70, finishing on nine-under-par for the week.

"I'm just beside myself," he said. "There's been a lot that's occurred since my last win [in 2009] and it's fantastic to be here again."

Westwood, needing a top-three finish to guarantee himself top spot in the rankings, carded a final-round 70 to close on four-over par for the tournament. Graeme McDowell equalled the lowest score in the event since it moved to PGA National in 2007, shooting a remarkable 64 which propelled him from 30th to joint sixth on two under.

Ian Poulter recorded his best score of the week, hitting five birdies during a 67, but Rory McIlroy's woes continued as he followed up his third-round 77 with a 75, leaving the Northern Irishman on a disappointing 16-over par. Luke Donald finished eight shots off the pace after carding a 66.

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