Killer Kaymer Defends at Abu Dhabi Championship

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In the Arabian desert, the past week in was uncharacteristically cloudy and cool.

Certain golf scribes... having flown in from wintery locals to cover the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship... lamented the gray skies and drizzle, while golfers like @WestwoodLee, expressed their surprise on Twitter.  "Rain rain rain rain rain! Not often you say that in Abu Dhabi" tweeted W#1 yesterday.  Locals however, relished the wet weather, calling it romantic.  And they probably know best.

Martin Kaymer obviously wasn't fazed by climatic conditions either, successfully defending his 2010 title and winning the Abu Dhabi Championship for the third time in four years today... by an impressive eight shots.

In Abu Dhabi spielt Martin Kaymer in einer Klasse für sich", wrote Wolfgang Scheffler in Frankfurter-Allegemeine FAZ.net, and indeed, the way he was playing throughout the four day tournament, the baby-faced German was in a class by himself ... and not taking it lightly for a minute either.

"I think it is important when you have a lead that you don't go out and try only to defend it. You should try to increase it", Kaymer specified as he began the final round today with a five-shot advantage over Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy finished second, while Retief Goosen and Graeme McDowell were another two shots back in third.  ~ The results in Abu Dhabi are expected to alter the world rankings quite significantly, with Herr Kaymer overtaking Tiger Woods for the No. 2 ranking and Mr. McDowell moving ahead of reigning Masters champion Phil Mickelson into No. 4.  ~ Our lovable Lefty BTW, finished 37th in his Abu Dhabi debut.

Photos: Scott Halleran/Getty Images AsiaPac January 17, 2011