Wilson player Paul Waring relied on his Wilson Staff Model CB and Utility irons, plus Wilson Staff Model ZM wedges to produce the performance of his career to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by two shots.
Following a course record 61 on Friday, Waring birdied his final two holes on Sunday to claim a stunning victory, his second DP World Tour title – after the 2018 Nordea Masters – and first Rolex Series win.
Using a 5-9 iron in the Wilson Staff Model CB irons and a 46 and 50 degree in the Staff Model ZM wedges, the 39-year-old from the Wirral produced a masterclass in ball striking and wedge control to finish first in strokes gained (+2,79) and second in approaches (+1.31). He also used a 21-degree Staff Model Utility iron.
He posted rounds of 64, 61, 73 and 66 to record a total of 24-under par, to finished ahead of Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy. His performance rises him to fifth on the Race to Dubai Rankings, climbing 43 places, to all but guarantee a PGA TOUR card as a dual member. He also moves to 105th on the Official World Golf Ranking, from 229th.
“It just means so much to so many other things that come with that win,” said Waring, who also used the standout Wilson Tour bag. “I don’t want to sound over the top or anything, but I felt like my golf game has been in such a good place over the last year. I just haven’t put it all together and then this week arrives and what a week for it all to come together, putting nicely, approach play was great, great off the tee. It’s nice to put it all together and get a tournament like this,” he told the DP World Tour website after collecting his trophy and a winner’s cheque for over €1.4m.
Commenting on the victory, Doug Wright, Global Commercial Director of Wilson Golf, said: “We’re all delighted for Paul. We see the hard work he puts in and how much he trusts his irons and wedges and it was apparent all week. He was in full control of his game and it’s great to add another Wilson victory to the books and a first Rolex Series win for the brand.”
Launched this year, the Staff Model CB irons are designed for elite players, featuring Precise Toe Weighting and a Fluid Feel Hosel, engineered to meet the high-performance standards expected by Tour-level players. Created with speed and precision in mind, the sleek construction of these irons caters to golfers seeking increased forgiveness in their longer clubs. The soft Forged 8620 Carbon Steel ensures ultimate feedback, allowing players to skilfully work the ball in both directions.
Also launched this year, the Staff Model ZM wedges incorporate a new ZM high-spin precision-milled groove pattern combined with Garnet Face Blasting to ensure a faster, deeper and longer ball interaction. This results in higher consistent spin and check control in all weather conditions, with a special focus on exceptional performance in wet conditions.
Constructed from soft forged 8620 carbon steel, the new Staff Model ZM wedges are designed with a straighter leading edge and elevated centre of gravity for trajectory control in the higher lofted wedges.
It was also a good week for fellow Wilson Tour player Ugo Coussaud. The Frenchman finished in a tie for sixth place on 20-under par and moved up 11 spots to 31st position in the Race to Dubai rankings ahead of the Tour Championship next week. The 32-year-old is enjoying his best season with four top-10 finishes, including a runner-up spot at the Qatar Masters earlier in the year.