Golf: Stephen Gallacher enjoys best finish in six years as he shares second in Dubai

By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Published on Monday 13 February 2012 12:13

STEPHEN Gallacher battled bravely in his bid to make it back-to-back Scottish wins on the European Tour before having to settle for a share of second place with Lee Westwood as the pair were pipped for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title by Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

The 27-year-old Canary Islander closed with a bogey-free 68 for an 18-under-par total of 270 to become the third Spanish winner of the title in a row after Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros.

Playing partners Gallacher and Westwood both needed to birdie the last to force a play-off, but the Scot, who was forced to lay up at the par-5 after catching the rough off the tee, was unable to hole a 15-foot downhill putt while the Englishman’s hopes disappeared following a clumsy pitch across the green.

There were consolations for both. Gallacher achieved his highest finish for nearly six years while Westwood reclaimed the world No 2 spot from Rory McIlroy. Gallacher has also soared 96 places in the Race to Dubai, from 108th to 12th – nine spots behind compatriot and Qatar Masters winner Paul Lawrie – after pocketing £137,762 to take his earnings from the three events on the Middle East Swing to £149,799.

“I was close, but no cigar,” said Gallacher, who had catapulted himself into contention for a second European Tour triumph when he moved level with Cabrera-Bello and Westwood on 17-under after holing a 40-foot eagle putt with a big swing on it at the long 13th.

The 37-year-old Scot was unable to convert a good birdie chance at the next, then made a great up-and-down to save par at the 16th before just missing with a birdie attempt at the penultimate hole. He closed with a 69 – one less than Westwood, who gave himself plenty of chances on the back nine but was unable to convert enough of them as he finished runner-up in the event for a third time

“The wind was up and conditions were tricky compared to yesterday. There were a lot of crosswinds and the greens firmed up,” added Gallacher. “Given the quality of the field, it was obviously always going to be tough and I didn’t hit the ball as well off the tee as yesterday. But my iron play was pretty good and I holed a few putts.

“I gave myself chances at 17 and 18. Unfortunately, I misread the putts a bit. I am a little disappointed because I would love to have made a play-off and I had a chance of sorts at the last. But on the whole I’m happy.”

Add in the £60,000 Mercedes car he won for a hole-in-one at the 15th in his opening round and it certainly added up to a good week’s work. It was even more impressive considering he had to use a new driver after breaking his favourite one in the Qatar Masters. “The one I have been using isn’t quite right, so my priority is to find a replacement that suits me,” he said.

After also being in contention with nine holes to play, Scott Jamieson finished in a tie for fifth alongside McIlroy. Helped by a birdie at the last, the 28-year-old Scot closed with 71, which earned him £52,501 and elevated him from 52nd to 25th on the money-list.

David Drysdale closed with a flawless 70 for 281 to finish in a tie for 28th – his third top 30 in five starts – with Lawrie, who took a double-bogey seven at the last to come home in 41, signing off with a 75 for 285 to finish in a tie for 51st alongside Richie Ramsay (72). Colin Montgomerie was 74th after a 76 for 293.

Cabrero-Bello took the outright lead with a birdie at the penultimate hole to claim his second European Tour victory following his success in the 2009 Austrian Open. “It’s a wonderful feeling,” he declared.

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