DUBAI, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Dubai Desert Classic
champion Rafael Cabrera-Bello proved fortune can favour the
brave when he ignored his caddie's advice to play safe from the
rough at the 16th hole and saved a precious stroke on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Spaniard went into the final round one shot
behind overnight leader Lee Westwood.
Cabrera-Bello moved in front with birdies at 11 and 12 but
world number three Westwood (birdie) and fellow Briton Stephen
Gallacher (eagle) also picked up strokes at the par-five 13th,
putting all three level on 17-under-par.
The 2009 Austrian Open champion, playing one hole ahead,
shanked his tee shot at the 16th into the trees and his ball
ended up in a sandy void.
"I saw the ball was lying quite good but then I tried to
look towards the green and I couldn't see it, it was all trees,"
said Cabrera-Bello.
"Had that been two or three holes earlier I would have
played differently but I knew if I dropped a shot it would give
the guys behind more confidence.
"I was talking to my caddie and was telling him the branches
didn't look thick - if I didn't hit it exactly where I wanted I
could still get lucky and maybe try to save par," added
Cabrera-Bello.
"But he told me, 'No, just play left'. I looked at it again.
The ball was sitting up so good. I said, 'Okay, I know this is a
very risky shot but don't worry it's my ball and I'm just going
to go for it'."
The gamble paid off as Cabrera-Bello landed just short of
the green and he scrambled his par.
He then rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt at the 17th and
a closing 68 for an 18-under total of 270 earned a one-stroke
win over Westwood and Gallacher.
"I tried to be calm," said Cabrera-Bello after notching his
second European Tour win. "There were different emotions, from
nervous to pressure to chill, but overall I was really enjoying
it.
"Competing at golf is my biggest thrill. I'm happy I was
able to stick to my plan, to play bold."
The Spaniard made a par five at the long 18th and could only
look on as Westwood and Gallacher failed to produce a closing
birdie that would have forced a playoff.
"I was just waiting. I didn't want to wish anyone wrong but
I was thinking if they missed their birdie putts it would be
really convenient," added the smiling Cabrera-Bello.
His victory earned a cheque for $416,200, a tour exemption
until the end of 2014 and a rise in the world rankings from
119th to around 60th.
"This win ... opens the door to better tournaments and to
playing with the top players of the world more often," said
Cabrera-Bello.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
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