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Jimenez Wins in Dubai
Miguel Angel Jimenez edged out Lee Westwood on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Dubai Desert Classic. Westwood missed a 6-foot par putt and Jimenez made his 5-footer for the victory.
It was the 16th European Tour win for the 46-year-old Spaniard, who has accumulated nine titles since turning 40. "All through the week I have been playing very well, strong on the golf course, strong mind and with good support from my caddie," he said. "I am like the good wines, with age, they get better and better."
Jimenez and Westwood (who both closed with 72s) finished regulation tied at 11-under 277 in windy conditions at Emirates Golf Club.
Westwood came close but couldn't pull off the win. "The writing was on the wall. Miguel plugs it in the front trap, 99 times out of a 100 that goes back in the water and he is one of the best bunker players on tour. He plays one of his poor bunker shots, but holes it from 18 feet to stay in. That's just one of those things. Playoffs can be like that."
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand finished third at 10 under, with Italy's Edoardo Molinari and Germany's Martin Kaymer another shot back.
After carding bogeys on the seventh and ninth holes en route to a 73, Rory McIlroy saw his chances of defending his Dubai title vanish. He finished at 8-under along with Alvaro Quiros (75). "I didn't play well today and didn't take my chances and it was just a bit of a struggle," McIlroy said.
Tom Watson, the 60-year-old American, showed that he loves playing in tough conditions, closing with a 68 for a 6-under 282 and a top-10 finish in his first appearance in Dubai.
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