A Classic pathway to Masters glory

Dubai: Given that the past two winners of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic have gone onto win the Masters, it’s only natural to assume that the next winner — crowned this Sunday — will be secretly sizing himself up for a Green Jacket.

But is this event, long known as the ‘Major of the Middle East’ for its prestige and strength of field, truly a barometer for the first Major of the year at Augusta in April, or is it all just a coincidence?

Organisers are happily playing on the correlation with caddies at Wednesday’s Pro/Am all donning Masters-esque white overalls and clubhouse hues echoing that of the dark green so favoured by Augusta’s tailor.

But ask the players and they are of mixed opinion.

Dubai defending champion Sergio Garcia, the man who followed Danny Willett’s lead of backing up a Dubai triumph with a career-first Major win last year, seems to think there’s nothing in it. “It’s just a coincidence,” he said. “It’s not like every winner here has gone on to win the Masters.

“It happened last year and the year before, but you know, neither Danny nor I are going to complain about it.”

Rory McIlroy, a man who has twice won here, but still needs to add the Masters to his cabinet to complete a career grand slam, agreed: “It’s definitely a coincidence.

“It’s great that Danny and Sergio went on to do something very special a couple of events after winning here, and that they kept that run going, but I wouldn’t read too much into it.”

On the similarities between both courses, Garcia joked: “They both have 18 holes, but other than that.”

Ernie Els, who holds the course (61) and most wins (three) record here, was more open minded however.

“It’s definitely a drawer’s golf course. It’s where my eye found back in the day, I could move it easily right-to-left and obviously Augusta is very similar,” said the two-time Masters runner-up.

“It’s very early in the season to compare the winner here to having a chance to win Augusta, but there’s got to be something there now, with the last two winners having won in Augusta.

“I think that’s why the field’s so strong, too. It’s a wonderful field here. All the way from the US and South Africa, all the way around the world, this is really one of the strongest fields running into Augusta.

“Obviously it says a lot for the tournament. It gives the tournament a lot of credibility when Augusta winners come out of here.”

Garcia did concede that having won so early on in the season against such a strong field in Dubai, did give him the confidence needed to get over the line in a Major.

“I guess that one aspect helped. Winning here against Henrik Stenson with Henrik playing so well and keeping him off my back throughout the day, was important mentally. That helped me a lot and it gave me a lot more confidence as I went on through the year.”

Willett won in Dubai by a stroke, Garcia by three, then they both went on to win at Augusta by similarly fine margins, Willett by three strokes and Garcia via a play-off.

‘Gutsiest win’

Even Willett admitted last year, ahead of his Dubai defence, that his “gutsiest win” in the emirate had helped get it done in Augusta.

“I think what Dubai and Augusta did tell me is that if I keep working hard, when I get the chances, I feel like I’m pretty ready to take them there and then, which is massive confidence-wise to be able to tell yourself to play good.”

Garcia comes into his Dubai defence fresh off a victory in Singapore last week, McIlroy too returned from injury last week to finish tied for third in Abu Dhabi. Both are now favourites for this year’s event at 8/1 and 4/1 respectively.