Dubai: Both Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Andy Sullivan felt a win was just around the corner after having to settle for second again at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.
Cabrera-Bello and Sullivan birdied the last hole to level themselves on 18-under par with Danny Willett, before Willett holed a 12-foot putt for birdie on the 18th to dodge a three-way play-off and win by a stroke.
This was Cabrera-Bello’s second runners-up finish in eight days after missing out to Branden Grace by two strokes in Qatar last week. Sullivan has also now made it two consecutive Dubai second-place finishes after Rory McIlroy pipped him to the DP World Tour Championship by a stroke in November.
“Second again,” said 2012 Desert Classic champion Cabrera-Bello. “Obviously I’m disappointed I didn’t get to win but I know playing like this, it’s just around the corner.
“I know the back nine was going to be very important and obviously getting off to a strong start would have been ideal,” said the 31-year-old Spaniard, who carded a bogey and a birdie on his front nine before three birdies on his return.
“That didn’t happen, so I just stayed patient and fought back all day long. I knew that coming down the stretch I could make some birdies and that’s what I did. I tried my best but Danny was one shot better today.
“Overall, I’m happy and proud of myself. I’m playing really good. This week has been great so it’s an ideal start.”
With Dubai proving to be a stumbling block for Sullivan, having also recorded two second-place finishes in his last two appearances in the Emirates, the 28-year-old Englishman could only pity his travelling fans. “I feel a bit gutted for the two times they have come to Dubai and been a bridesmaid both times, but I’m sure they are proud,” said Sullivan.
“I just have to keep putting myself in this position and eventually I’ll get over the line.
“Fair play to Dan, holing that putt, that was a tough putt. I didn’t feel like I put him under enough pressure through the midpoint of the round, I had a lot of chances but I didn’t quite take them,” added Sullivan, who carded three birdies and a bogey on his front nine and two birdies on his return.
“The putts towards the end kept me in it, par saves, and when I holed that putt on the last I felt I had a sneaky chance. But Dan is a quality player and you expect him to step up and he did. Fair play to him.
“The adrenaline, the emotions, I literally want to wrap it up and bottle it, it was good fun and bodes well for the rest of the year.”
Selected final scores
269 - Danny Willett (ENG) 70-65-65-69
270 - Andy Sullivan (ENG) 70-66-66-68, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67-67-67-69
272 - Byeong-hun An (KOR) 71-67-69-65, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 68-69-70-65
273 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 68-72-68-65, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 69-68-70-66
274 - Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 71-69-68-66, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 70-70-68-66, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 72-64-70-68, Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 70-70-66-68, Chris Wood (ENG) 68-68-69-69, Scott Hend (AUS) 71-68-66-69, Hadyn Porteus (RSA) 72-66-66-70, Joost Luiten (NED) 69-67-67-71
275 - Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 68-71-69-67, Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 70-70-67-68
276 - Gary Stal (FRA) 70-68-71-67, Ernie Els (RSA) 68-67-74-67, Bradley Dredge (WAL) 70-70-68-68, Johan Carlsson (SWE) 71-67-70-68, Bryson DeChambeau (Am, USA) 70-69-68-69, Graeme Storm (ENG) 68-70-69-69
277 - Wu Ashun (CHN) 70-73-69-65, Brett Rumford (AUS) 67-70-69-71
278 - Renato Paratore (ITA) 70-71-71-66, Peter Hanson (SWE) 67-73-71-67, Wade Ormsby (AUS) 71-69-70-68, Ross Fisher (ENG) 70-71-68-69, George Coetzee (RSA) 72-70-67-69, Trevor Fisher Jnr (RSA) 67-68-72-71, Nathan Holman (AUS) 69-70-67-72
