The longest serving professional golf event in the UAE is the Dubai Desert Classic. The first edition back in 1989 was then labelled as the Karl Litten Desert Classic, after the course designer. The aim even all those years ago was to bring a stella field of players to Dubai to showcase the new spectacle which was the Majlis golf course.
Meanwhile the other side of the world just starting out his golfing career was Stephen Gallacher. Every year he would turn on his television in West Lothian, Scotland to see the greats of the game playing the game he loved which was then just a golf course in the middle of the desert where his idols were playing as he told Gulf News exclusively.
‘I remember watching Ernie shoot 61, I remember watching Seve round here, it was just an iconic golf tournament it was just won you loved to watch the course and when Dubai started to build up a bit you used to tune in to see what had changed’ said Gallacher.
After turning professional in 1995, it would be a further four years before he could get to grips for the first time with the event when it was then being held at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.
‘I first played in the event in 1999 and I played ok, then I finished 4th the year after when José Coceres won round Dubai Creek and then they moved it back to here at the Majlis and then I have played in pretty much every year since.
‘The course has changed now, I think the course has got a lot stronger and tougher, its longer than when we played. The onus is on hitting the fairways, you’ve got to hit the fairways now because the greens are really firm and fast so you’ve got to hit the fairways off the tee which is the number one rule and then you’ve got a chance at the par fives so you have got to take advantage of those.
‘But I think the course is fantastic, it’s up there with any tournament golf course we play, its tougher now, it’s in great condition and the wind is enough to get your attention and Dubai is just one of my favourite cities I love coming here with the family.’
If you were to turn back the clocks 10 years ago this week, Stephen Gallacher ended a 201-tournament wait for his second victory on the DP World Tour, the then European Tour. Gallacher held the lead going into the final round after he shot his best career round of 62 on the European Tour in the third round. Although a bumpy start with two bogeys in his first two holes, he pretty much clinched victory with an eagle on the 16th hole. A one under par 71 gave Gallacher a 22 under par winning total and three shot victory margin to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by three strokes.
The following year, Gallacher defended his title with a one stroke victory at the 2014 Omega Dubai Desert Classic for his third European Tour victory. Birdies on the 11th, 13th, 16th and 17th to finish 16 under par after a closing 72. He is still the first golfer to ever successfully defend the title Dubai Desert Classic. A win that would propel him into a spot for a Ryder Cup place at Gleneagles the following September.
‘It kick started my chance to get in the Ryder Cup so it means everything to me and to have my family here the second time to watch me play against Rory and Tiger I’ve just got some unbelievable memories from here and a place I love coming.’
