Dubai Desert Classic report: What happened at Emirates GC?
On one of the toughest days the Dubai Desert Classic has seen Bryson DeChambeau surrendered his title to Lucas Herbert as he bogeyed his final four holes.
The American, who put in some considerable work over the winter, was in contention on Sunday and with a share of the lead on the back nine it looked as if he would kick on and claim his second consecutive Dubai title as he stood on the 15th tee.
But what followed was four bogeys to finish and the stretch included a ball dunked into the water at the last which summed up his situation.
His meltdown looks to have at least some connection to a slow-play penalty threat that was looming over the American on the back nine.
He was reportedly given a bad time on the 10th hole and informed that one more would lead to a sanction greater than simply a verbal warning.
Today in Dubai, Bryson DeChambeau was put on the clock and given a slow-play warning on the 10th hole.
He went on to shoot 76, T-8, which included bogeying his last four holes. pic.twitter.com/3RovwMAgbM
— Samantha Marks (@SamMarksGC) January 26, 2020
All eyes were on the DeChambeau’s group from the outset as he was playing alongside England’s Eddie Pepperell who has had a word or two to say about his playing partner’s slow play in the past.
Last August he called the American a ‘single minded twit’ for his snail-like efforts.
Awkward. pic.twitter.com/7MemSLKCYA
— NCG (@NCG_com) January 26, 2020
In typical Pepperell fashion he did not shy away from the situation upon finding out his Sunday grouping and tweeted to give us an insight into his thoughts.
Fully understand if Bryson wants to keep hitting it 40 past me tomorrow so we don’t have to chat.
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) January 25, 2020
Following the conclusion of their round the Englishman once again took to twitter to let us know exactly what it was actually like, and it wasn’t anywhere near as eventful as we’d hoped.
We actually got on quite well. And to his credit, he’s sped up.
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) January 26, 2020
After DeChambeau had fallen from contention the two players in the clubhouse on 9-under, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Herbert knew that they would be heading back out for a play-off.
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Tom Lewis failed to eagle the last to book his play-off spot and that confirmed it was to be a two-man shoot-out.
Both players found the fairway off the tee and after Bezuidenhout had laid up Herbert chose to go for the par-5’s green with his second.
He carved his 3-wood right into the water and described it as the worst shot of his life. But a brilliant pitch from the drop zone gave him a short par putt and both players made par.
Tournament on the line, and @lhgolf5 does this…
Unbelievable play-off drama in Dubai.#ODDC pic.twitter.com/optW9zxLHj
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 26, 2020
On the second play-off hole Herbert’s 318-yard drive gave him the immediate advantage and a long iron into the green left a good look at eagle and had the pressure firmly on his opponent who was over the back of the green after his second.
A two-putt birdie was good enough to better Bezhuidenhout’s par and he becomes the latest maiden winner on the European Tour.
Aussie Aussie Aussie! 🏆@lhgolf5 wins the #ODDC after a dramatic play-off! pic.twitter.com/cQP5xhET3l
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 26, 2020
Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard
-9* Lucas Herbert, Christaan Bezhuidenhout
-7 Adri Arnaus, Dean Burmester, Tom Lewis
-6 Kurt Kitayama, Ashun Wu
-5 Bryson DeChambeau, Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Robert MacIntyre
-4 Tommy Fleetwood, David Lipsky, Shane Lowry, Matthieu Pavon, Eddie Pepperell
Full leaderboard (external site)
