Omega Dubai Desert Classic
January 30 – February 2, 2014
Emirates G.C.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Par: 72 / Yardage:7,316
Purse: $3.19 Million
with $390,132 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Stephen Gallacher

Things you need to know for Sunday’s final round in Dubai
So who is leading?
- Defending champion Stephen Gallacher looks like he doesn’t want to give up the title as he shot a third round 63 to finish up at 16 under par, two shots better than Rory McIlroy and four better than Brooks Koepka and Thorbjorn Olesen.
What is remarkable about Gallacher leading?
- It’s the method that he chose to do it, his third round 63 is just a shot below his best round of 62 that was shot in the third round last year in his Omega Dubal Desert Classic victory. Making last year ever more intriguing, Gallacher shot 63 in his opening round to go along with his 70-62-71 totals.
How did Gallacher he shot 63?
- He hit 15 of 18 greens and took just 25 putts. Making the round even more spectacular was the fact that after making pars on his first 7 holes he bogeyed the par 4 8th hole. After that he went on a tear reeling off 8 birdies, an eagle at 13 and one par at 14, playing his final ten holes in 10 under par. He said after his round how much he was struggling in the first couple of holes. When he missed a birdie putt at seven and then bogeyed the 8th he thought “Oh well.” After that he never missed a single shot, hit a 7-iron to three feet at nine, making the putt and then went on to shot 28 on the back nine.
So should we just hand Gallacher the trophy?
- Not really, if history tells us anything it’s hard to go low one day and back it up the next. Look at Gallacher last year, he opened with a 63 then shot 70, he had a third round 62 followed by a 71. With Rory McIlroy just two back I would have to think that Gallacher will be thinking about shooting 68, that’s sounds easy but he has to do it. In the 25 year history of this event nobody has ever won it back to back and it’s only multiple winner is Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.
Talking about Tiger what is up with him?
- Tiger is like Superman on kryptonite, for the second event in a row he is struggling. Woods played with Gallacher and had the opposite of days that Gallacher had. He was one under after 8 and while Gallacher was making birdie on nine, Tiger bogeyed the hole and went on to shot 70, dropping nine shots to Gallacher on their final ten holes. After opening up with a 68, Tiger shot 73-70 and is T37th, 11 shots back. Just like in San Diego Woods lost his mojo on the par 5s, he is only 4 under on the four long holes compared to Gallacher and McIlroy who are nine under on the par 5s. Again every facet of Tiger’s game is subpar, for the week he has only hit 20 of 42 fairways which ranks T56th out of 71 players. Tiger has only hit 35 of 54 greens, ranked another dismal T57th out of 71 players. He has taken 85 putts but still it ranks T19th but a key deficiency for Tiger is after going 8 for 8 in scrambling during the first round 68, Tiger has gone 8 for 11 which isn’t bad except for those three missed up and downs if all due to poor sand play, something that he is a star at.
So what does all this mean for Tiger?
- His game isn’t in great shape. I have a hunch that just like with Rory McIlroy last year chasing tennis star Caroline Wozniacki around the world, Tiger may be spending more time on the ski slopes with his girlfriend skier Lindsey Vonn. Both the Emirates and Torrey Pines courses are right up his alley but he hasn’t taken advantage of them now. Maybe the Emirates has changed but over the years, Woods played the course 20 times competitively between 2001 and 2008, never finished worst than 5th, only shot one round over par (73 in 3rd round, 2008) and was 82 under. After winning in 2008 he didn’t play again until 2011 in which he opened up with a 71-66, then finishing 72-75. You tack on his rounds of 68-73-70 with his last two rounds in 2011 he is just two under par. For those thinking that maybe he will fly home and work on his game to get ready for the Accenture Match Play (which we think is his next start, he could decide not to play in Tucson and play the next week at the Honda near his home) your wrong. Tiger is flying to India and play in a non-public 18-hole match with Pawan Munjal, the CEO and managing director of Hero Motor Group. It’s rumored that PGA Tour pro Arjun Atwal will play with them.
We haven’t talked about Rory McIlroy or Brooks Koepka or even Thorbjorn Olesen yet?
- As for Koepka, after shooting 69-65 and then playing his first 11 holes in three under, he was in the mix. But Koepka had a weird stretch playing 12 through 15 bogey, birdie, bogey, bogey before finishing off with three pars. Honestly this has to hurt his confidence, he is a 23 year-old that is playing in Europe for the second straight year and he has shown a lot of promise. But he hasn’t been able to close it off in the final round, could he do it on Sunday, doubtful. I really like McIlroy, who not many know suffered a bout of food poisoning after his first round 63 but still shot 70-69. After a slow start on Saturday in which he had an eagle, a birdie, two pars and two birdies, McIlroy played his last 12 holes with two birdies and 11 pars. After a stellar first round in which every part of his game got worst on Friday and Saturday, he showed signs of getting stronger on Saturday afternoon. After his round on Saturday he told the meida “My stomach is better today, still not 100 per cent but it’s better than it was yesterday,” He has shown a different side the last three months, he didn’t like the way he played last year and seems more devoted and wanting to practice more. It showed with his Australian Open win in December, plus he spent the last part of January in Dubai working on his game. I feel that by Sunday he will be 100% and ready to go. Last but not least we have Thorbjorn Olesen who finished T3rd last week in Qatar. He hasn’t won since Sicily in 2012 but he has a good record in the desert. Along with his T3rd last week in Qatar, he finished T3rd last year in Dubai and T2nd last year in Abu Dhabi, so we know what kind of courses he likes. He is four shots back of Gallacher and two shots back of McIlroy so you have to think that he needs at least a 65 to do it. He has only shot 65 or better five times in his career so we have to wonder if he has it in him to go low on Sunday, it’s doubtful but I can see another top-three finish for him.
Below is a list of the top-18 players on the leader board going to 7 under showing how they have done of late to see who has played the best the last two months:
Of the top-18 on the Leaderboard, who’s playing the best
Player | Qatar Masters | Farmers Insurance | Abu Dhabi Championship | Humana Challenge | Volvo Golf | Sony Open | Hyundai T of C | Nelson Mandela | Nedbank Challenge | Hong Kong | Alfred Dunhill | South African | HSBC Champions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rory McIlroy (120 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T2 (100) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (20) |
Dawie Van der walt (108 pts) |
T9 (45) |
DNP | 71 (0) |
DNP | 33 (17) |
DNP | DNP | Win (44) |
24 (8.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Darren Fichardt (103 pts) |
T16 (34) |
DNP | T10 (40) |
DNP | 35 (15) |
DNP | DNP | T50 (0.33) |
T12 (12.67) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
T37 (4.33) |
T61 (0) |
Romain Wattel (97.33 pts) |
T11 (39) |
DNP | T45 (5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 4 (26.67) |
DNP | DNP | T3 (30) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Stephen Gallacher (93 pts) |
T28 (22) |
DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | T29 (21) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T63 (0) |
Thorbjorn Olesen (90 pts) |
T3 (90) |
DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T60 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Jamie Donaldson (87 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | T13 (37) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 (16.67) |
Steve Webster (82 pts) |
T5 (70) |
DNP | T60 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T30 (6.67) |
T24 (8.67) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Thongchai Jaidee (73.33 pts) |
T33 (17) |
DNP | T10 (40) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 9 (15) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T46 (1.33) |
Richard Sterne (24.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 28 (22) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T14 (12) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T39 (3.67) |
Robert Rock (22.33 pts) |
T22 (28) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T40 (3.33) |
DNP | DNP | T37 (4.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Emiliano Grillo (15.67 pts) |
74 (0) |
DNP | T31 (19) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Edoardo Molinari (6.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T28 (22) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T47 (1) |
CUT (-3.33) |
T52 (0) |
DNP |
Brooks Koepka (3 pts) |
T37 (13) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Paul Waring (-0.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T37 (13) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Roope Kakko (-1.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T24 (8.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Damien McGrane (-13 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | 70 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T50 (0.33) |
DNP | DNP | T57 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Bernd Wiesberger (-20 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Player | Qatar Masters | Farmers Insurance | Abu Dhabi Championship | Humana Challenge | Volvo Golf | Sony Open | Hyundai T of C | Nelson Mandela | Nedbank Challenge | Hong Kong | Alfred Dunhill | South African | HSBC Champions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bernd Wiesberger (-20 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Damien McGrane (-13 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | 70 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T50 (0.33) |
DNP | DNP | T57 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Roope Kakko (-1.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T24 (8.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Paul Waring (-0.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T37 (13) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Brooks Koepka (3 pts) |
T37 (13) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Edoardo Molinari (6.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T28 (22) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T47 (1) |
CUT (-3.33) |
T52 (0) |
DNP |
Emiliano Grillo (15.67 pts) |
74 (0) |
DNP | T31 (19) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Robert Rock (22.33 pts) |
T22 (28) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T40 (3.33) |
DNP | DNP | T37 (4.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP |
Richard Sterne (24.33 pts) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | 28 (22) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T14 (12) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T39 (3.67) |
Thongchai Jaidee (73.33 pts) |
T33 (17) |
DNP | T10 (40) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 9 (15) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T46 (1.33) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who should win Dubai on Sunday
Best Bets:
Rory McIlroy
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T5 | T10 | T6 | Win | CUT | T52 | CUT |
I can’t see nothing stopping this kid, even food poisoning. I see him in Gallacher’s face all day and hitting the right shots at the right time. This could be the springboard to a really great year
Stephen Gallacher
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | T2 | T10 | T31 | CUT | T44 | T44 | T22 | T51 | T34 | T38 | CUT |
This won’t be as easy as last year’s win. He needs to be able to look Rory in the face and for every good shot Rory hits, he does the same. This could be a big moment for him to step up to a bigger level in the world golf stage. It’s really hard coming back with a low score after shooting 63 on Saturday, but I see him having to shot 68 to have a chance of winning. Two things he has to keep in focus, looking to climb from 67 to the top-50 so that first he gets into the Match Play (should be a shoe in) and getting into the top-50 for a Masters invite.
Best of the rest:
Thorbjorn Olesen
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T3 | T42 | CUT |
Look for another top-three finish, just doesn’t have the game to shot 63 on Sunday. A top-five finish wraps up a invite to the Match Play
Brooks Koepka
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Big event, not winning but if he can slip in with a 2nd or 3rd will elevate him.
Steve Webster
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T7 | CUT | T48 | CUT | CUT | T54 | CUT | T41 | T11 | T24 | T28 | T32 |
Just another storyline, he is more about the money than victory so I see him looking for a 2nd or 3rd place finish
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
Solid contenders
Robert Rock
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T7 | T51 | T20 | T20 | CUT |
Past champion, only problem too far back. Could have one of his better finishes in a while
Edoardo Molinari
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T24 | CUT | T4 |
Could make up a lot of ground and climb way up in the world rankings, currenty 274th.
Long shots that could come through:
Darren Fichardt
2013 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 | ’05 | ’04 | ’03 | ’02 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | CUT | T29 | T64 | T63 | CUT |
A top-three would knock him on the door of climbing from 122 in the world rankings, a really great finish like a second place could be enough for Match Play