Dubai: Scotland's Stephen Gallacher was left disappointed in the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic after he and Lee Westwood both failed to force champion Rafael Cabrera-Bello into a play-off situation.
All tied at 17-under par with five holes left to play, Cabrera-Bello saved par on 16 and birdied 17 to win after Gallacher and Westwood could only par all their remaining holes, both missing 15-20 foot putts for birdie on 18 in a nail-biting climax.
Having bogeyed one, birdied two then birdied five and bogeyed seven to end the front nine level, Gallacher's round picked up on the back nine with a birdie and eagle combination on 10 and 13, but the 2004 Dunhill Links Champion still couldn't monopolise on his better inward momentum.
Having ended day one tied for 20th the 37-year-old, who won his sole above-mentioned title in a play-off with Graeme McDowell, made it to tied for seventh and tied for second on days three and four but he was left ruing his inability to make a move when it counted.
Struggle
Gallacher said: "I struggled a bit off the tee today but I hit a lot of good iron shots and made a few putts at the right time. I had a chance to get into the play-off on the last [18th] so just a wee bit disappointed but happy overall.
"The start of the week was okay — it's just a bit disappointing I would have loved to have made the play-off. But fair play to Rafa, he played well, and 18 under is a good score in these [blustery] conditions.
"It was tricky conditions compared to Saturday. I didn't really hit the ball as good off the tee as I had done on Saturday but hit my iron shots pretty good and holed a few putts. It was close but no cigar.
Crosswinds
"It was tough today, a lot of crosswinds, and the greens were firming up, so it was always going to be difficult. I also struggled with my driver — it broke last week, so I'm still playing with a driver this week that's not quite right. So first on the priority list is get a driver that suits me."
Speaking of his eagle on 13, a flashpoint where many foresaw — to no avail — Gallacher beginning to heap pressure on Westwood and Cabrera-Bello, down the final stretch.
Gallacher said: "It was about a 40 footer down the hill. It's one of those ones where I was in between clubs, so I just had to knock it up the back and try to take my chance with the putt.
"It gave me a chance over the last few holes anyway. I made a good putt at 16 but I had a couple of chances coming in at 17 and 18 but I just misread them a bit. On the whole I'm happy with that."
