Golf digest

Robert Allenby captured the Australian PGA Championship for a fourth time as he cruised to his second win in as many weeks by four shots from John Senden and Scott Strange.

Having already claimed the Kirkwood Cup in 2000, 2001 and 2005, Allenby carded a second-straight five-under 66 to finish at 14 under at Coolum yesterday.

A week after ending a four-year title drought at the lucrative Nedbank Challenge in South Africa in a play-off, Allenby’s late decision to add this week’s event to his schedule paid handsome dividends as he grabbed five birdies and never surrendered the lead on the final day.

So impressive was Allenby, particularly with his putting which has not always been the strongest part of his game, that he played the final 23 holes of the tournament without dropping a shot.

He collected seven birdies in that stretch and made only one bogey in his final 33 holes that featured 11 birdies.

Six of his rivals spent time within a stroke of the lead, his playing partner Strange doing so for five holes after he made successive birdies at the fifth and sixth holes, but Allenby’s fine form with his claw grip on the putter allowed him to slam the door firmly shut.

Tournament drawcard John Daly, who spoke candidly on Saturday of his desire to help world number one Tiger Woods through the crisis in his private life, finished the event at one over par overall after signing for a second-straight 72.

Kim makes most of invitation

WOMEN'S TOUR: South Korea's In Kyung Kim clinched victory in the Dubai Masters by three strokes on Saturday, but was pushed all the way by American Michelle Wie.

A strong finish to a round of 68 saw Kim win with a four-round aggregate of 18-under-par 270 at the season-ending tournament on the Ladies European Tour.

Kim, playing on an invitation, was placed eighth after a first round of 70 but shot into pole position with a second round of 65 and never looked back.

She sealed the win in style with a birdie on the par-five 18th.

Ireland’s Rebecca Coakley finished in a share of 19th on three under par to collect just over €6,000, while Martin Gillen slipped down the field in the last two rounds. She earned €1,350.

Martin finally delivers on his amateur promise

EUROPEAN TOUR: Spain's Pablo Martin created more European Tour history yesterday by winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

Two years after becoming the first amateur to win on the circuit, the 23-year-old is now the only one to capture titles both as an amateur and a professional.

Martin, ranked 488th in the world at the start of the tournament, was in the depths of despair about his game after missing the first seven cuts of this year. He now ends 2009 on a real high after beating home hope and former winner Charl Schwartzel by a stroke.

It was only on the final day of last season that Martin made sure of keeping his Tour card, but he is now exempt until the end of 2012 – and €158,500 richer.

The Malaga golfer had had only one top-10 finish since his triumph at the Portuguese Open, but with a closing three-under-par 69 he held off the charging Schwartzel to win with a 17-under total.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “I am so happy and there was so much emotion today.”

Martin was able to celebrate with his sister, who had joined him on a trip that was part holiday to see the wildlife on the Kruger National Park adjoining Leopard Creek.

While he had the ecstasy, there was agony for several others after the 541-yard 18th claimed yet more victims.

Welshman Sion Bebb, only one behind after an eagle on the 13th, crashed to a sextuple bogey 11 after tangling with trees and then dumping two balls in the water surrounding the green.

That dropped him from fifth to 17th and alongside Ernie Els, who after starting the day tied for second shot a miserable 77.

The former British Open champion’s round ended in a double-bogey seven on the hole where he took eight when two in front two years ago, while Ireland’s Gareth Maybin also took seven when lying third and Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera had an eight to fall from fourth to eighth.

Maybin closed with a 71 to share fourth place and claim €38,825. Damien McGrane was a shot back after a 72, worth €22,000, while Shane Lowry shared 17th on seven under par. He earned €11,700.