2014 Abu Dhabi Championships

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A gracious Rory McIlroy congratulates Abu Dhabi winner Pablo Larrazabal as Phil Mickelson looks on (AP Photo).

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Pablo Larrazabal raises his fist in celebration after winning the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Jan. 19, 2014.

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Phil Mickelson plays right-handed from under a bush on the 13th hole, double-hitting the ball in the process, during the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

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An Emirati marshal keeps the crowds behind a rope during the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Jan. 19, 2014.

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Rory McIlroy kisses the forehead of his fiancee, Caroline Wozniacki after the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Jan. 19, 2014.

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Pablo Larrazabal is congratulated by his countryman Miguel Angel Jimenez after winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on January 19, 2014 in the United Arab Emirates' capital, Abu Dhabi.

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Phil Mickelson on the 18th hole after he lost the Abu Dhabi Championship by one on Sunday Jan. 19, 2014.

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Pablo Larrazabal kisses his trophy after winning the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014.

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Phil Mickelson plays his tee shot at the par 5, 8th hole during the final round of the 2014 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi.

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Pablo Larrazabal follows his ball on the 4th hole during the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Jan. 19, 2014.

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Rory McIlroy climbs up a hill to reach the 3rd hole during the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014.

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Though he failed to card a single birdie on Thursday, Mickelson dropped 9 birdies and an eagle on Saturday.

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Mickelson consults with longtime caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay.

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After nearly missing the cut, Phil Mickelson shot a 9-under 63 on Saturday, the best round of the day, to move into a tie for second place, two shots off the lead.

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"I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. "The biggest thing for me is that each day as the tournament has progressed I have felt a lot sharper and sharper."

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Mickelson plays out of the rough on No. 18.

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Rory McIlroy stood alone in second place after a 4-under 68 until tournament officials ruled that he would be assessed a two-stroke penalty for taking an incorrect drop on the second hole.

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The penalty dropped McIlroy into a tie for fourth place, three shots behind the leader.

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McIlroy waits to tee off on the par-4 16th hole.

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"To a spectator it may feel like I have been unduly punished, and that's what it feels like to me, but it's a rule of the game," said McIlroy. "I do feel like I have been hard done by but it's nothing that a fast start tomorrow can't fix."

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Craig Lee of Scotland is the 54-hole leader. Lee shot a 69 to move to 12-under for the tournament.

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Gaganjeet Bhullar of India (66) shares second place with Mickelson at 10-under.

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Pablo Larrazabal of Spain sits in fourth place at 9-under with McIlroy.

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Phil Mickelson warms up on the practice range prior to the start of the opening round at Abu Dhabi.

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Mickelson plays his fourth shot at the par 5, 10th hole.

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After 17 straight pars, Mickelson bogeyed 18, carding a 1-over 73, six shots off the lead. "I can't recall the last time I had a round without a birdie," Mickelson said. "But didn't make a bogey there until the last."

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Adal Khalid of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing presents Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland with a traditional Emirate 'Bisht,' a gown given as a gift to men who have recently become engaged.

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Event organizers paired their two biggest stars in the opening round.

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McIlroy finished with an opening round 2-under 70. "I feel the benefit of ending last year well and then starting off this year with a lot of hard work, it's sort of showed off," McIlroy said. "Today was my first competitive round since the start of December, and I drove the ball as well as I have done in a long time."

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McIlroy signs an autograph for a 'lucky' fan.

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Matthew Baldwin of England shot a 67 to grab a share of the lead with Romain Wattel of France and Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain.

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23-year-old Romain Wattel is seeking his first European Tour win.

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European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley was one of seven players who finished a shot behind the leaders at 4-under.

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After a remarkable 2013 season in which he captured the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and the European Tour's Race to Dubai, Henrik Stenson struggled in his 2014 debut, shooting a 2-over 74 to fall to T85.

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Sergio Garcia let his displeasure be known following his opening round 76, calling the course's thick rough "dangerous" and blaming the tall grass for a shoulder injury he sustained in Wednesday's pro-am and reaggravated on Thursday.

2014 Abu Dhabi Championships

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2014 Abu Dhabi Championships

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