European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic final scoreboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/omega-dubai-desert-classic-2020/results
If you weren't watching this in the early hours here on EST you missed a train wreck of a finish that ended up with young Aussie Lucas Herbert (68) prevailing against young South African, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (68) on the second play off hole at the par 5 18th on an Emirates GC that was playing as tough as ever with new thick rough, tighter fairways and a decent wind blowing.
His winning score of -9 is the highest in tournament history, 15 shots higher than Bryson DeChambeau last year. It is his first European Tour win, on Australia Day in his 50th event.
Speaking of DeChambeau he was issued a slow play warning and went on to bogey his last 4 holes to fall out of it with a 76. He wasn't alone..
Ashun Wu was cruising along with a 3 shot lead but after a three putt double bogey at the 10th, his wheels fell off as he made bogey at 11,13 and 15 and that let the field back in.
Spain's Adri Arnaus (70), South African Dean Burmerster (72), England's Tom Lewis (74) all finished -7, while Kurt Kitayama (75) with Wu (77) finished -6, but the point is they all had their chances, with bogey's in abundance, and drama after drama on that famous 18th with the classic risk for reward, go for it or lay up decision, with the pond protecting the narrow green.
In the playoff Herbert hit a hackers slice 70 yards off line into the pond with his second while Bezuidenhout laid up and wedged in. He was in control until the young Aussie recovered with a stunning wedge within the leather from the drop zone. They halved the hole in par.
Herbert now with a second chance, bombed his drive on the second playoff hole, and hit a long iron into the heart of the 18th green while Bezuidenhout hit a long three wood up against the grandstand with his 2nd, advantage Herbert. The South African got a free drop but left his flop shot short and narrowly missed his 4th down the hill. Herbert then 2 putted to end all the drama.
Next week they do it all over again at the Saudi International.
Bryan Angus
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