2014 European Tour: Henrik Stenson Repeats In Dubai

Aug 10, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; PGA golfer Henrik Stenson tees off on the 10th hole during the final round of the 2014 PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a long year for 2013 Race To Dubai Champ, Henrik Stenson, but the 38 year-old Swede becomes the first player in history to defend a title at The DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. It is also the first successful defense of a title for the 2013 Race To Dubai Champion.

Although Henrik Stenson held on today, to defend his title in the last tournament of the 2014 European Tour season at the Greg Norman designed, Jumeriah Estates Golf Course in Dubai, he was not able to repeat his 2013 Race To Dubai Championship. That honor belonged to Rory McIlroy, who finished in a tie for second place on Sunday afternoon.

Stenson fired a final-round, two under par 70 on an afternoon where he didn’t have his A-game, but made a phenomenal birdie at 17, and another at the 72nd hole to grab the two-shot win over a trio of chasers that included the Race To Dubai Champ, 2013 US Open Champ, Justin Rose, and Ryder Cup star, Victor Dubuisson.

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After stumbling during the middle of the afternoon with a double bogey at the 11th hole, Stenson hit the shot of the week at the par three 17. He hit a solid five-iron into a stiff wind on a dangerous green that got inside the leather, and became a much-needed tap-in birdie.

"“It was a horrible shot [at 11], one of the worst shots I’ve hit for a long, long time,” said Stenson, whose victory ensured he finished second behind McIlroy in The Race to Dubai. “After that I had to dig deep, but I was still there or thereabouts and I’m delighted with the day and the week and my defence."

McIlroy, and Rose had an opportunity to put some pressure on Stenson at 18, but couldn’t manage birdies at the closing hole. Both missed the green, and needed great chips and good putts to make par. Both finished two shots back when Stenson made his four.

The big threat in the last two rounds came from Frenchman, Victor Dubuisson. The more popular Frenchman didn’t make a bogey during the weekend, and was nine under par, finishing with a final round four under, 68.

The big loser on the day was Raphael Cabrera-Bello. The Spaniard had a piece of the 54-hole lead and played alongside the winner on Sunday.

Cabrera-Bello got off to a decent start, making the turn at two under par before the wheels fell off. Two double bogeys down the stretch netted him a three over par 75, and dropped him into a tie for ninth place.

Playing his third shot at 16 from inside the hazard line, he put the fourth shot in the water netting him a six. He almost matched Stensons tee shot at 17, but three inches short, put him in the water and scrambling for another double bogey, and out of the tournament.

A pair of nice six under par 66’s were turned in on Sunday by Irishman, Shane Lowery, and South African, Louis Oosthuizen. Lowery’s 66 was a bookend that matched his opening effort on Thursday, and his solo fifth placce finish moves him into the top 50 in World rankings, and gets him an invitation to the Masters, as well as, the WGC events.

The popular South African, and 2010 Open Champ finished in a tie for sixth at twelve under par.

With the 2014 European Tour season in the history books, Rory McIlroy is off to Australia to defend his 2013 Australian Open title, and Henrik Stenson is heading home to Florida for Tiger Woods’ Hero Challenge, and some much-needed rest before the 2015 season gets underway in January.

Source: EuropeanTour.com

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