Rafael Cabrera Bello singled out the late Seve Ballesteros declaring the golfing great can take credit for the newer generation of Spanish born golfers.
Cabrera Bello became the third straight Spaniard to capture the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
He also now looks likely to secure a place in next week’s $US 8.5m WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship early tomorrow morning (Monday UK time) when the World Rankings are adjusted in coming from one stroke back to win by a stroke on 18-under par on the Emiates course.
Cabrera Bello followed his best friend Alvaro Quiros into the winner’s circle in carding a final round 68.
The 27-year old Grand Canarian earned Euro 315,500 for only his second Race to Dubai success after breaking through in 2009 to win the Austrian Open.
Cabrera Bello now joins Ballesteros (1992), Jose Maria Olazabal (1998), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2010) and Quiros (2011) as winners of the inaugural ‘Desert Swing’ event.
Rafael Cabrera Bello becomes the fifth Spaniard to capture the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“I am sure Seve will be very pleased that Spanish golf is in such a strong condition,” said Cabrera Bello.
“Seve has been an inspiration to not only golfers from Spain but to golfers around the world.
“He also has been responsible for this new generation of Spanish players competing now on the European.
“Players like my good friend Alvaro, Pablo Larrazabal and Gonzalo Fernandez Castano.
“And I am just so proud to have my name now on the same trophy as Seve, Jose Maria, Miguel and Alvaro.”
England’s Lee Westwood finished runner-up for a third occasion in his 18th appearance missing a birdie putt at the last in a round of 70 to share second place on 17-under par with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher (69).
And Rory McIlroy threw his arms up in sheer frustrating after holing out for birdie and end in a share of fifth place.
McIlroy had been tied for the lead heading to the weekend rounds but it soon turned pear shaped with a wayward drive down the first on the last day and then three-putting from 50 feet for bogey in an eventual round of 71 for a 14-under par tally.
McIlroy was heading straight to Dubai Airport and the short 45-minute flight to Doha where he’s joining girlfriend Caroline Wozinacki who is contesting the Qatar Open.
McIlroy, who has been bumped back to World No. 3 behind Westwood, intends spending the week in the Qatari capital before heading to Arizona and the big showdown of the new season, the $US 8.5m WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship.
“I’m a little disappointed considering the position I was in going to the weekend,” he said.
“I just got frustrated on the green but I’m more pleased how I drove the ball today. I sorted that out last night on the range, and in speaking to Michael (Bannon –coach), because I must have hit balls for maybe an hour-and-a-half.
“So that was nice and it will be nice now not to play on Bermuda greens for one week so I’ve got a week off and then three good weeks at the Match-Play, the Honda and Doral.”
While McIlroy looks again likely to lose his World No. 2 ranking to Westwood, he stays in fifth place on the Race to Dubai.
However since winning in Dubai in 2009, McIlroy has gone into a last day of a Race to Dubai event on 23 occasions either leading or lying within five strokes of the lead.
But on just two occasions, last year’s U.S. Open and Hong Kong Open successes, has McIlroy managed victory.
