DUBAI, 8 March 2004 — Twice major champion Mark O’Meara rolled back the years with an emotional one-shot victory at the Dubai Desert Classic yesterday.
The 47-year-old American, whose last official tour win was the 1998 British Open at Royal Birkdale, fired a closing three-under-par 69 to finish on 17-under 271.
Having started the day tied for the lead with Ireland’s Paul McGinley, he was never headed in the final round, mixing four birdies with a solitary bogey at a sun-drenched Emirates Golf Club.
McGinley, bidding for his first European Tour success since the 2001 Wales Open, birdied the last for a 70 to secure second place at 16 under. Twice winner Ernie Els (65) was a further two shots back in a share of third with Britain’s David Howell (67), while world number one Tiger Woods tied for fifth after closing with a 68.
Parry Powers Into Lead at Doral
In Miami, Australian Craig Parry shot a five-under-par 67 to open a one-shot lead after the third round of the Doral Championship on Saturday.
A bogey at the par-four 17th hole was the Australian’s only flaw as he finished 13-under 203 following a round that included six birdies at Doral’s Blue Monster course.
He was a shot clear of Gene Sauers, who shot an eight-under 64, and Scott Verplank (65) at 12-under 204. The par-four 18th hole could determine the outcome. The signature 467-yard hole was lengthened by 24 yards last year and allowed just four birdies on Saturday and 22 through three rounds.
Starting at eight-under-par, Parry made three birdies in the first five holes to get to 11-under-par and eventually went out in three-under 33. David Toms (65), South Korean K.J. Choi (66), Danny Ellis (67), Joe Durant (67), Chris DiMarco (67) and Phil Mickelson (69) were tied for fourth place at 11-under 205.
