After 72 exciting holes, with all the scenarios open up to the 18th, Scotsman Stephen Gallacher prevailed with 272 strokes (16 under par) for the second year in a row at the Desert Classic, the tournament which ended yesterday at Emirates Golf Dubai Club.
In the 25 years of this race, no reigning champion had repeated the feat for two editions in a row. Gallacher, a 40-year-old Scot, succeeded with just three victories on the European tour. Nobody would have bet on it on the eve, instead Stephen was able to surprise and keep up with champions of the caliber of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, scoring, among other things, a spectacular third round with nine shots under par in the second holes .
Epic tournament also for the brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, respectively classified ninth and 13th. Edo, in particular, made his Italian fans dream for four days, showing a powerful and regular game and a solid putt, so as to rank among the first places on the greens in the statistics. The player from Turin was perhaps betrayed by emotion in the last nine holes, when the final was yet to be written. The loss of two shots at 11 and 12, right on the greens where he had been so good, put an end to his dreams of glory. However, Molinari has shown that he is still master of his game, after a 2013 characterized by wrist problems, which bodes well for the entire season and his eventual participation in the Ryder Cup.
Another excellent placement also for Francesco Molinari, modest, nice, talented, who came within a stroke of his brother with a last lap with three birdies and no bogey. Francesco hasn't won victories for over a year, but he proves every time that he still has a lot of potential to express. Well done Marco Crespi, in 48th position with a total of -5 strokes under par. Too bad for Matteo Manassero, who didn't even pass the cut.
After all, golf gives glory and money, but also bitterness even to number one. In Tiger Woods knows something that even in Dubai, after the disappointment of San Diego, he had to settle for 41st place. The American phenomenon is still the only star of this sport, but it is increasingly difficult to live up to his fame. Obviously he can't always win, but this season he still hasn't put the right gear into it and above all he hasn't found the swing for the drive. The confrontation with McIlroy, the first two days, was implacable. Rory, long, precise, determined, seemed destined to win the Desert with ease.
After 36 holes one had the clear feeling that the kitten had eaten the tiger. However, no one had counted on Gallacher, who continued to grind good holes, triggering the turbo on the third lap. Lastly, an honorable mention for Emiliano Grillo, the 22-year-old Argentinian who displayed a pyrotechnic display and missed the cup by a hair's breadth, finishing second, one shot behind the Scotsman.
