O'Meara's Dubai Desert Classic win signals end of drought
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2004 Dubai Desert Classic | Wrap | 08 Mar 2004
Although his involvement at the event may initially have been looked upon as part of the package deal for his good friend Tiger Woods’ participation in the event, Mark O’Meara showed that he deserved to be there in his own right when he edged out Ireland’s Paul McGinley by a shot to win the 2004 Dubai Desert Classic.
O’Meara has not won a full tour individual event of any kind since 1998, a year in which he claimed the Masters and British Open, so this performance here signals the return to form of one of the game’s more prolific winners. This would be his 24th career win and his 8th outside of the US. He has won 16 times on the USPGA Tour.
The big finishes on day four came from both David Howell (67) who won here in 1999 and two time winner of this event, Ernie Els, whose last round 65 was the best of the day. The pair tied for third but they were three back of McGinley.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, playing a European Tour event for the first time as a card holder, followed his Malaysian Open win with a very solid week, finishing 5th, producing a last round 67. Jaidee was also 4th at the Johnnie Walker Classic in February and has now moved to 6th on the Volvo Order of Merit. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the range of conditions he will experience on the European Tour but clearly he is one of the best players ever to have come out of South East Asia.
Tiger Woods, with a last round 68 was tied for 5th with Jaidee, Brian Davis and Marcel Siem.
O’Meara, who had shown glimpses of his previous game when 8th at the Masters and 4th at the Franklin Templeton shootout last year, had come into this week off two consecutive missed cuts in San Diego and Los Angeles so this form reversal, while welcome, was hardly expected. The 47-year-old, just three years away from what may well be a lucrative Seniors career, started the last round tied with McGinley and they traded blows for much of the round, the telling blow coming at the par four 16th where McGinley would bogey to slip two behind. McGinley went on to birdie the last but a rock solid par by the experienced O’Meara kept the Irishman at bay.
No doubt, the ride in Tiger’s jet back to Florida will be an enjoyable one with Woods, I imagine, just as happy for his friend and confidant as if he himself had have won the event. O’Meara is currently scheduled to play this coming week’s Honda Classic, although Tiger will not be back until next week’s Bay Hill event where he will be looking for his fifth consecutive victory in that event.
Of the Australasian brigade Michael Campbell was best in 17th place following a final round 66, newcomer Wade Ormsby was 20th, Marcus Fraser 24th, Brett Rumford and Richard Green 27th and Stephen Scahill 52nd.
The European Tour now moves further up the Gulf to Qatar for the Qatar Masters.
