SHANGHAI, November 6, 2011 (AFP) - Germany's Martin Kaymer carded a sensational seven birdies on the back nine on Sunday to take the HSBC Champions title in Shanghai by three strokes over in-form Swede Fredrik Jacobson.
The world number six Kaymer finished 20-under overall and pockets $1.2-million thanks to his remarkable final round of nine-under-par 63, capping off his day with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th to seal the crown.
Jacobson had commanded the summit of the leaderboard since round two but the 54th ranked player fired three bogeys as Kaymer went three strokes clear with clinical green finishes -- including a blistering 30-footer on the 16th.
Kaymer, who had nine birdies in all on the day, finished Asia's $7-million flagship tournament on 268 at the Sheshan International course having been a daunting five shots behind Jacobson going into the decisive day.
"It was an ok year, now it is a good one," said the understated 26-year-old German.
"I think that the winning putt was on the 17th today. I made a great birdie and I think that put me in a position where I felt that if I birdied again on the 18th, it's all done, and even par would be enough," said Kaymer, who executed his plan clinically by birdying the last two holes.
Kaymer began the year with his triumph at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship but then saw his form dip until Sunday, when his game came together in spectacular fashion to snatch the win from Jacobson.
The Swede, who finished third at last week's $6.1-million CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia after leading at one stage, was not too downbeat about falling away once more at the last.
"I was happy with the chances I gave myself," he said.
"I wish I could have made a couple of more putts along the way to really get a little bit of a cushion and put a little bit more pressure on Martin coming down the stretch. But it is what it is. I gave it my everything."
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell redeemed himself in part after his nightmare weekend at the Andalucia Masters last week. He carded five birdies in his five-under 67 to finish in third.
"Four very solid rounds of golf and much more the kind of golf I expect from myself," he said.
"It's great to bounce back from probably one of the worst weekends of my career. I've been very happy with the way I've played. I putted horrifically last week and putted much, much more solid this week."
England's injury-recovering Paul Casey finished tied fourth alongside South African Charl Schwartzel, the Masters winner, and world number three and US Open champion Rory McIlroy.
Northern Irish star McIlroy, who was shadowed inside the ropes by tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki throughout the tournament, saw his front nine rally to gain the lead peter out with two bogeys.
"Not really what I was looking for today but finished off quite well," said McIlroy, winner of last week's cash-rich Shanghai Masters in a play-off.
"I would have had to do something very special to keep up with Martin today. A little disappointed but looking forward to my two weeks off."
He later said on Twitter: "4th wasn't what I was looking for but still a solid week overall. On the upside I will move to No2 in the world rankings tomorrow!"
England's Lee Westwood, the current number two, endured a miserable day at the office with bogeys galore and a spell looking for a wayward ball in a fir tree to finish tied 13th.
Australian Adam Scott, whose caddy Steve Williams is at the centre of a race storm after comments about Tiger Woods, saw his challenge slip badly, carding four bogeys.
Scott is under increasing pressure to sack Williams, who called Woods -- Williams' former employer -- a "black arsehole" during an awards dinner on Friday night.
Scott told reporters he will not be axing his caddy as he prepares to fly home to play in the Australian Open in Sydney, where he is ironically paired with Woods.
Tour chiefs Sunday condemned Williams in a statement but said that they would not be taking further action and the matter was now "closed".
Leading final-round scores from the $7-million HSBC Champions tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai on Sunday (par 72):
268 - Martin Kaymer (GER) 69-68-68-63
271 - Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 67-66-67-71
272 - Graeme McDowell (NIR) 69-69-67-67
273 - Paul Casey (ENG) 70-66-70-67, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70-69-69-65, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 70-69-65-69
274 - Hunter Mahan (USA) 71-67-69-67, Justin Rose (ENG) 68-70-70-66, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 71-63-68-72
275 - Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 69-73-65-68
276 - Adam Scott (AUS) 69-65-69-73, Bo Van Pelt (USA) 67-69-70-70
278 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 69-68-67-74, Ian Poulter (ENG) 70-68-69-71, Zhang Xinjun (CHN) 74-68-64-72
279 - Keegan Bradley (USA) 65-70-72-72, Simon Dyson (ENG) 69-69-70-71, KJ Choi (KOR) 68-70-72-69