Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Winner: Bryson DeChambeau

For three days at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Bryson DeChambeau was not happy with his game even though scores of 66, 66 and 68 at Emirates had him leading by one over defending champion Haotong Li. “I’m just not 100 percent with my game,” DeChambeau said on Saturday evening before a long session on the practice range as night fell.

It did the trick. DeChambeau, he of the identical length irons and now, under the new Rules of Golf, putting with the flagstick in the hole, birdied the first three holes on Sunday, eagled the 10th, birdied three of the next four holes, dropped only one shot and then had a three at the short par-four 17th to score a 64. On the 30th anniversary of the first European Tour event in the Middle East, he set a new tournament record of 24-under-par 264.

“Today I was happy with my game,” DeChambeau said. “I executed a lot of great shots. It was obviously a lot of fun to be able to finally hoist an international trophy, I’m so happy about that.” Having won four times in America in 2017, and reaching fifth in the World Ranking, the 25-year-old from California had started the week stating his goal of winning overseas
for the first time.

The victory margin was seven strokes after Matt Wallace, 68, broke a tie for second by birdieing the 18th to finish one ahead of compatriots Ian Poulter and Paul Waring, who both closed with 64s, and Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Quiros.

Li dropped from a tie for third to a tie for 12th when he was handed a two-stroke penalty as officials judged his caddie had stood too long behind his player as Li took his stance over his putt at the 18th. It was the first such penalty for a professional under the new Rules of Golf which prohibit a caddie lining up a player.