Howell stave off Tiger’s challenge

“I’m very ambitious and winning events like this HSBC Champions tournament is the sort of stuff I want to be doing,” said an elated Howell. “I’ve worked so hard for this win. I’m now leading the 2006 order of merit … plus I’ve got some Ryder Cup points, which we’re all after, so I couldn’t be happier.”

Woods began the day one shot behind his Ryder Cup rival and it soon became two after Howell birdied the second. A two-shot swing at the fifth, where Woods fluffed a three-foot par putt and watched Howell tap in for birdie, left the 10-times major winner four strokes adrift. Howell was pulverised by eventual champion Woods at this year’s Masters at Augusta National where they were paired together in the third round.

Woods shot a 65 while Howell slumped to a 76 on his Augusta debut but, though the Englishman briefly faltered by missing short par putts at the eighth and ninth on the final day in Shanghai, he kept his nerve this time. The 30-year-old calmly sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-four 10th to forge three clear and, once Woods bogeyed 16, Howell’s third European Tour victory was all but sealed. Britain’s Nick Dougherty tied for third with Australian NickO’Hern at 14 under. Fiji’s world number two Vijay Singh shot a 69 to tie for fifth at 13 under.

A day of ties: Atwal 12th, Randhawa 45th

Shanghai: India’s Arjun Atwal stepped on the gas and made a big move with a four-under 68 to finish a commendable tied 12th.

Atwal’s score could have been at least two shots better, but for a ‘ball move’ that cost him a one-shot penalty and a missed three-footer on the 18th. Atwal finished with rounds of 69, 70, 73 and 68 for a tournament tally of eight-under 280. Despite the disappointments, Atwal was pleased, saying, “I think I was on the top of my game today and played my best (round) of the week. I hit the ball well, hit the irons well and putted well, too. The iron play was great because I hit pin high and got all my distances right.”

Jyoti Randhawa, who with Atwal, will compete next at the World Cup in Portugal, closed with a second nine of 33. But it was barely enough to make up for his three-over 39 on his starting nine, after starting from the tenth tee. His par 72 saw him end at tied 45th.