Dubai: Stephen Gallacher was happy with his final round of 69 despite finishing six strokes behind and relinquishing his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title to Rory McIlroy at Emirates Golf Club on Sunday.
The 2013 and 2014 champion finished on 16 under par 272 (66,67,70,69) and missed out on the chance to become only the sixth golfer to win the same event three times in a row in European Tour history.
The Scot, who would have also equalled Ernie Els’ record three wins in Dubai with victory, went into the final day seven strokes behind McIlroy and in the end admitted it was too big an ask to catch the runaway World No.1.
“I’m delighted with the way I played today [Sunday],” said Gallacher, who admitted struggling in the wind as he carded a bogey-birdie on the front nine and four birdies and a bogey on his return. “It was probably the best I’ve played all week. It was a tough day but great just to stay in contention, that’s all you can do.
“Rory is pretty good from the front and I was way back [seven shots]. You need to be three or four [shots behind] to have a chance. I was trying to get as low as possible to get up the leaderboard. On a tough day like that it’s difficult, but I just tried to knuckle down and take my chances.
“There wasn’t really that much pressure when you’re defending because you’ve already done it. You just hope that when you get to the last day, you are still in contention and in with a shout because you know you’ve finished it off a couple of times. But when the World No.1 starts off with five birdies on the front nine yesterday [Saturday] it’s pretty ominous.
“It’s been a good hunting ground for me [Dubai]. It was a good week. I’m delighted with the week. It was tough weather today and tough to chase the World No.1 from so far back. I was playing for second place [anyway], so I’m delighted with my performance.”
With this third place finish, Gallacher has now finished second, first, first, third in his past four Dubai outings.
