GREAT GALLACHER FIRST MAN TO WIN DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC TWO YEARS IN A ROW
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Stephen Gallacher produced another tremendous back-nine fightback to become the first player to successfully defend the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Gallacher began the day with a two shot lead over playing partner Rory McIlroy, but bogeyed the first two holes and dropped further shots on the sixth and eighth to fall two off the pace.
However, the 39 year old Scot from Bathgate, nephew of Bernard Gallacher, found the back nine at Emirates Golf Club very much to his liking for the second day in succession, making birdies on the 11th, 13th, 16th and 17th to finish 16 under par after a closing 72.
It was nothing like as spectacular as the seven birdies and an eagle he produced to cover the same stretch in just 28 shots on Saturday, but was enough to win by one shot from Argentina's Emiliano Grillo.
Grillo had set the clubhouse target on 15 under after a flawless 66 completed in amazing fashion, the World Number 268 holing from 65 feet for an eagle on the 18th after his approach had clattered into the hospitality tents behind the green and bounced back onto the putting surface.
France's Romain Wattel and American Brooks Koepka shared third place on 14 under, with McIlroy two shots further back after struggling to a 74.
World No 1 Tiger Woods carded a final round of 71 to finish in a tie for 41st on six under.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
272 Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 66 71 63 72
273 Emiliano Grillo (Argentina) 71 67 69 66
274 Romain Wattel (France) 68 73 67 66, Brooks Koepka (USA) 69 65 70 70
SELECTED TOTALS
276 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 63 70 69 74 (T9)
282 Tiger Woods (USA) 68 73 70 71, Chris Doak (Scotland) 71 68 72 72 (T41)
283 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 73 69 70 71, Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 70 70 69 74 (T48)
284 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 68 71 72 73 (T54)
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Published by scottishgolfview.com