As always, this year’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic proved to be a fascinating event. Obviously with Rory McIlroy playing so well and starting the final day four shots ahead, it was not much of a competition, but Sunday’s round still made for some dramatic golf.

This win really felt different for Rory. In his previous triumphs, you could sense the flamboyance in him coming out now and then. But, in Dubai, he was just solid and gritty. He knew he had a task to do and he eschewed all risks and went about it in the most dogged manner.

I guess the recent examples of Martin Kaymer in Abu Dhabi and Charl Schwartzel in South Africa, where both major winners lost leads bigger than Rory’s on the final day, must have forced the world No. 1 to be slightly more defensive, but he did a brilliant job of protecting it. I have always felt playing smarter golf is a sign of maturity and Rory needs to be complimented for this.

Of course, what also helped immensely was the both his closest pursuers on the final day — Morten Orum Madsen and Lee Westwood — failed to close the gap and went the other way on the front nine. Madsen started with a triple bogey seven, while Westwood was looking solid before the par-4 ninth got to him for the second successive day, as he made a double bogey there.

There was also was the cloud of a multi-million dollar lawsuit in a Dublin court that was hanging over him — and anything to do with the law or police can be an intimidating experience, even for a world No. 1. For him to take all those thoughts out and play his golf the way he played all week was another remarkable achievement.

For me, there were two stars of the Desert Classic — Rory, and the Majlis course. I think the course conditions were just fabulous and the maintenance staff of Emirates Golf Club need to be congratulated for producing such awesome greens and fairways.

Across the Atlantic, Tiger Woods made a shocking start to his year, finishing last among the field at the Phoenix Open. Like we saw him at last December’s Hero World Challenge, his chipping is troubling him the most, and some reports even suggest that the former world No. 1 may be suffering from the dreaded yips.

I would not buy into that theory, nor would I hurry and write Tiger’s golfing obituary. It’s been less than a year since he underwent serious back surgery, and not even four months since he changed his coach and remodeled his swing. Let’s face it, Tiger is also human after all, and it would have been a miracle if he had come out all guns blazing and won at TPC Scottsdale.

Tiger needs to be given some time and I am sure, such is the class of the man, he will bounce back from this latest crisis in his life.

— Jeev Milkha Singh is a four-time champion on the European Tour