Dubai Desert Classic: Paul Casey wins by four shots from Brandon Stone
- Published
Paul Casey won titles in Abu Dhabi in 2007 and 2009
Omega Dubai Desert Classic - final leaderboard |
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-17 P Casey (Eng); -13 B Stone (SA); -12 R MacIntyre (Sco); -10 L Canter (Eng); K Samooja (Fin); -9 B Wiesberger (Aut), P Harrington (Ire), S Garcia (Spa) |
Selected others: -7 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), T Fleetwood (Eng), L Westwood (Eng); -5 T Hatton (Eng), -4 G Forest (Sco), S Jamieson (Sco), S Lowry (Ire); -3 J Rose (Eng) Final leaderboard |
England's Paul Casey won his 15th European Tour title with a four-stroke success at the Dubai Desert Classic.
The 43-year-old led by one shot going into Sunday's final round and a two-under 70 was enough for a 17-under final total at Emirates Golf Club.
South Africa's Brandon Stone finished as runner-up with Scotland's Robert MacIntyre a further shot back.
MacIntyre had a share of the lead early on but four bogeys in a row from the seventh saw him drop out of contention.
Ireland's Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, who will lead Europe against the USA at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in September, finished in a tie for sixth on nine under alongside Spain's Sergio Garcia and Austria's Bernd Wiesberger.
It was Casey's first European Tour win since the 2019 European Open and it is set to see him rise from 27th to 14th in the new world rankings on Monday.
"It's very, very special," he said. "It's an unbelievable roster [of winners]. That's so cool, I've worked so hard.
"I feel like I've regained my youth, I mean that sincerely."
Birdies at the third and fourth - the latter coming off a difficult lie - helped him start the final round strongly.
Although he made three bogeys after that, three more birdies, including one at the 18th, saw him secure the win which boosts his chances of a fifth Ryder Cup appearance later this year.