Stephen Gallacher rebounds on back nine to win Dubai Desert Classic

Scotsman sank four birdies on the back nine after hitting four bogies on the front nine to finish 16-under and win the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, the first time anyone had done so in successive years, writes Steve Elling.

Stephen Gallacher shot a tournament total 272, beating Emiliano Grillo of Argentina by a stroke. David Cannon / Getty Images

After spending a record pile of cash to stage the grandest Omega Dubai Desert Classic of all, in tribute to the event’s 25th anniversary, organisers might have found a way to save a few dirhams going forward.

They can reuse the massive, 20-by-20 mural of 2013 winner Stephen Gallacher, posing with the tournament’s signature teapot trophy, that has been affixed to the back of the grandstands at the first tee all week.

With a rally that was crazily reminiscent of his final round at last year’s tournament, Gallacher closed with a memorable finishing kick to become the first player to defend his title at Middle East’s oldest event.

Despite a starry history that has featured some of the greatest players of the past two decades, nobody had ever done the Dubai double.

After blowing a two-shot overnight lead in as many holes and trailing by a shot as the back nine began, Gallacher made four birdies down the stretch to finish 16 under, beating Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo by a shot.

After a wobbly start, Gallacher was golden at the silver-anniversary event, which should not rate as a huge shock. In his last three trips to the Emirates Golf Club, the power-hitting Scotsman has finished second, first and first, which is some incredible stuff from a player with a modest three career European Tour victories.

“I wish I could play [Emirates] every week,” he said.

Well, the back nine, anyway.

For the second day in succession, Gallacher started slowly, then left a trail of scorched grass in his wake as he played the final nine holes. On Saturday, he played the last nine in nine under, and given the throng of players chasing him home yesterday, this performance was nearly as impressive.

In fact, Gallacher was one of eight players to have held at least a share of the lead on one of the wildest Sunday’s in a quarter-century of tournament play. Indeed, with six holes to play, there were 18 players within two shots of the lead.

But with the back nine yielding birdies and Gallacher in the last group, he had the chance to react to what had transpired ahead of him. After playing the front nine in an ugly four over, the light came on.

It mirrored the script from last year’s victory, when he blew a three-shot lead after 54 holes, then came back to win, which seemed only appropriate.

After all, yesterday was Groundhog Day, and just like in the movie of the same name, it seemed like an instant replay of 2013 in spots.

“So many similarities to last year, it was unbelievable,” he said.

All around him, players tried to crash the party, only to fall back. Playing partner Rory McIlroy, the world No 6, played in the final group, too, and fell apart on the back nine, where Gallacher drilled him by five shots. McIlroy was tied for the lead with three others as the back nine began.

“The way Stephen played down the stretch was impressive,” said McIlroy, who finished in a tie for ninth after a 74. “It was good to see.”

The double was all the sweeter because of the long-term rewards. Gallacher will climb to a projected 37th in the world ranking this week, which will guarantee spots in the elite World Golf Championships events and spots in all four major championships.

He has never played in the Masters, though he has passed on opportunities to play Augusta National.

“I said I would never go until I got in the tournament,” he said.

Then there is that little team event in Scotland later this fall.

The Ryder Cup will be played at Gleneagles in September. Gallacher is a native of Linlithgow, 37 miles from where the matches will be staged. For a native son to make the European team in his own backyard is hard to wrap your head around.

“It’s pretty much all I grew up watching,” he said.

Gallacher’s first three tee shots of the day ended up in the desert or fairway bunkers as the field bunched behind him. He reclaimed the outright lead at 14 with a birdie on the par-5 13th, then poured in a 12-footer to salvage par on the 15th.

Up ahead, Grilli made a huge jump to finish at 15 under with an eagle on the 18th, though Gallacher birdied from eight feet on 16th to pull even, with two notoriously easy scoring holes left.

With the tournament in his own hands, Gallacher chipped to within a foot for an easy birdie on the short 17th, where he nearly drove the green, and was able to play for a safe par, steering in a nervous four-footer for a closing 72 on the last.

“I never do anything easy,” he said.

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