A bogey on the 72nd hole sent Christiaan Bezuidenhout into what would be an unsuccessfully playoff at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The South African took full advantage of the struggles of Ashun Wu and Bryson DeChambeau on a day that saw all seasons at Emirates Golf Club.
Bezuidenhout was five under for the day standing over his pitch into the last green but was left holding his mouth in shock as he watched his ball pitch short of the hole and spin back into the hazard. A fist-pump followed after he drained his bogey effort as he set the clubhouse score on -9.
He was swiftly joined in the clubhouse by Australian Lucas Herbert, who birdied 17 and 18 to match the South African’s mark.
They waited an age as the challengers fell by the wayside. DeChambeau dropped into a share of eighth after a 76 while Wu’s 77 saw him settle for sixth.
A 72 earned Dean Burmester a share of third albeit two strokes behind Bezuidenhout and Herbert.
The leaders headed to the 18th for the first time; Herbert pulled off a stunning wedge after his errant 3-wood approach found the water. Bezuidenhout saw his birdie try sail past but tapped in to go back to the tee for a second time.
Both players found the fairway with the South African, who won for the first time on the European Tour in Spain last year, up first. His fairway wood flew the green and left him in the drop zone with a nasty lie.
The Australian shook off his first playoff hole disappointment and hit his iron safely onto the putting surface. He left his eagle try just short and then tapped home for the win after Bezuidenhout missed his downhill left to right slider narrowly on the high side.
Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
