Omega Dubai Desert Classic concludes with Rafael Cabrera-Bello on top- Highlights Part-1
The latest edition of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic has finally concluded with a comparatively new face at the top.
Young Rafael Cabrera-Bello landed his second European Tour victory, following the trail left by his fellow Spaniards.
Dubai has proven to be the favourite hunting ground for the Spaniards who normally do well on the windy Middle Eastern turf.
Bello started his bid with a blistering round of nine-under, 63 on the first day, surging past the grizzled veterans in the event.
His first round knock helped him through the rest of the three days, enabling him to land the title with a final round of four-under, 68. He was one stroke better than the nearest contenders.
Bello said, “It’s an unbelievable feeling and it’s been a really spectacular week for me. With so many big, big names I felt really proud of myself. I wanted to fight, I stayed calm, I did everything that I’ve read we should do in these types of situations”.
The 27-year-old has been on the professional circuit for the last six years and has been gradually working his way up with occasional victories on the tour.
He turned professional in the year 2005 and won his maiden title in Austria, the MAN NÖ Open in July 2006.
After winning twice on the Challenge Tour, Bello switched over to mainstream European Tour circuit and carded his first victory, the Austrian Golf Open in the year 2009.
The young Spaniard carded his second European Tour victory amid one of the toughest fields gathered for the showdown.
It featured the likes of Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy, three of the four top-ranked players in the world.
He added, “Not just with Lee, whom I admire a lot, but also with all of the big names that were up there contending, like Rory, like Martin (Kaymer), the other guys that came up, like Stephen, like myself, they are all really, really good players”.
After a blistering knock of nine-under, 63 on the opening day, Bello slumped to a less impressive performance on the two consecutive days, giving room to the rest of the players to claim lead in the following rounds.
He fell for a three-under, 69 on the second day and another two-under, 70 on the third to fall back on the leaderboard.
Opening his final round in the morning, Bello was facing the formidable challenge of Westwood at the top.
Westwood grabbed the lead in the third round with his superb round of five-under, 67 on the third day.
Westwood also played well on the second day with seven-under, 65 to surge past the rest of the contenders.
Bello was trailing the Englishman by one stroke when the duo started off their bid on the final day.
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