Paul Waring carded a 6-under 66 to win the Abu Dhabi Championship for the biggest victory of his career on Sunday.

The 229th-ranked Englishman was one stroke ahead overnight and finished on 24 under. He even surprised himself at how smoothly the fourth and final round went.

“It was quite an easy day really, wasn’t it? It just means so much,” the 39-year-old Waring said. “To actually keep control of myself in the way that I did today I’m really proud of myself.”

He finished two shots clear of countryman Tyrrell Hatton — who had eight birdies in his 64 — and three clear of Danish golfer Thorbjorn Olesen (66), Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (64) and Englishman Matt Wallace (63) in a tie for third.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I still think I’ve got to play another hole or something,” an emotional Waring said. “It hasn’t quite hit me yet. I’m sure it will do later on when I’m having a beer.”

It was only his second DP World Tour title on his 332nd appearance and six years after his first at the Nordea Masters.

Waring’s 19-under score after two rounds at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Links was the lowest 36-hole score to par in European tour history.

Now he faces the prospect of playing as a dual member on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.

Sunday’s triumph also sealed him a place at The Open Championship next year.

Eckroat claims 2nd PGA Tour title

Austin Eckroat won the World Wide Technology Championship on Sunday for his second PGA Tour title of the year, shooting a 9-under 63 for a one-stroke victory over Justin Lower and Carson Young.

Playing in the group ahead of Lower and Young, Eckroat birdied the par-4 17th to open a three-stroke lead over Young, then finished with a bogey on the par-5 18th at Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante in Mexico.

Eckroat locked up spot in the top 50 in the FedExCup Fall standings.

“I think it kind of validates the season that I had, just a great way to cap off and end the year,” Eckroat said. “It was really special to do it at an event where the title sponsor, I’m an ambassador of their company. A cool week.”

Needing an eagle to force a playoff, Young birdied the 18th for a 65.

Lower closed with an eagle for a 65.

Eckroat finished at 24-under 264. The 25-year-old former Oklahoma State player won the Cognizant Classic in March at PGA National for his first PGA Tour title.

On Sunday, he didn’t have a par until the seventh hole, opening with five birdies and a bogey. He added a birdie on No. 8 and birdied four of the first five holes on the back nine. Max Greyserman was fourth at 22 under after a 65. Joe Highsmith had a 68 to finish fifth at 19 under.