Dubai: Stephen Deane (professional) and Miki Mirza (amateur) held their nerves when it mattered most to win the 2010 Omega Dubai Desert Classic qualifier at the sun-drenched Emirates Golf Club on Sunday.
The duo will join a stellar cast, led by seasoned Tom Watson, European number one Lee Westwood and defending champion Rory McIlroy among other big guns, when the $2.5 million (Dh9.18 million) European Tour event, promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi, gets under way from February 1 to 7.
Emirates Golf Club professional Deane shot a gross four-over-par 76 to win by one shot from his nearest challengers while Mirza needed to take a detour before settling the issue in a tense playoff against Bahrain's Nasser Yacoob after both were tied at two over par 74 in regulation play.
"Words can't describe how I am feeling at the moment. I think it's just fantastic to win the qualifier even though I wasn't really on top of my game," said a jubilant Deane.
"I didn't drive the ball as I normally would and, at times, it was a scramble out there. But I held on quite nicely and kept the big numbers out of my scorecard."
