Inicio News Brilliant Willett seals dramatic Dubai win

Brilliant Willett seals dramatic Dubai win

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Danny Willett showed nerves of steel to make a 15-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, edging out his compatriot Andy Sullivan and Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello by one shot.

The 28 year old knew Sullivan was in the clubhouse on 18 under par after a four under par 68, and had just watched playing partner Cabrera-Bello tap in for birdie to reach the same score, but he calmly rolled in his own birdie putt for a 69 and his fourth European Tour title.

Having started the day with a one-shot lead, Willett brilliantly withstood the pressure of Sullivan and Cabrera-Bello, who won here at Emirates Golf Club in 2012 and was tied second in Qatar last week.

Three dropped shots gave his rivals hope, but birdies on the 12th and 13th helped set up a thrilling finish, and he closed out in the same ruthless style that won him two titles last season en route to second place in the Race to Dubai.

Korea’s Byeong Hun An and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros both had rounds of 65 to leap into a tie for fourth, while that score was also matched by defending champion Rory McIlroy for a share of sixth place, alongside Henrik Stenson.

Danny Willett

“I’m just ecstatic. You can’t buy that feeling, coming down the back nine, the last three holes, in contention of a golf tournament. You can’t pay for that experience: you’ve got to earn it. With all the permutations that were going on as we were coming down the last, with Sully making birdie ahead of us and then Rafa on the green in two, it’s very nice to know that I can dig deep and produce what I can when it is needed the most. You’d love to win by five or six every time you win, but when you win in that fashion, it does feel that little bit extra special. It means when the pressure is on I can produce the goods, I guess. It’s always great to come out early in the season and win. Everything I’ve done has been really good this week, and mentally I’ve been as good as I have been for a long, long time. I stayed patient and let things happen.”

Andy Sullivan

“Fair play to Danny, holing that putt – that was a tough putt. I didn’t feel like I put him under enough pressure through the midpoint of the round. I had a lot of chances and didn’t take them. The putts towards the end kept me in it, par saves, and when you hole that putt on the last, you feel you’ve given yourself a sneaky chance. But Dan is a quality player and you expect him to step up, and he did. After nine holes I said it’s going too quickly, I was enjoying myself so much. You want to bottle that feeling. It was fantastic, the adrenaline, the emotions – it was good fun and bodes well for the rest of the year. If I can just keep putting myself in that position, eventually I’ll get over the line.”

Rafa Cabrera-Bello

“Overall I’m very happy. Finishing second again, it’s a great position. It’s been a fantastic tournament. I played really well and I’m proud of myself. I’m obviously disappointed I didn’t get to win, but I know that playing like this, it’s around the corner. I knew the back nine was going to be very important. Getting off to a strong start would have been ideal, but that didn’t happen, so I just stayed patient. I fought back all day long and played aggressively. I knew that coming down the stretch I could make some birdies and that’s what I did. I tried my best and Danny was one shot better today.”

Rory McIlroy

“I got it going today a little bit better and played the front nine better. All in all, it was a decent weekend and a decent way to play the last 27 holes. My game feels in good shape. There are still a few things to work on – I’m struggling with the driver a little bit, so I want to work on that.”

Final scores