Live leaderboard

Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

Bryson DeChambeau claimed his maiden European Tour title in style on Sunday, producing a closing 64 to win the 30th anniversary edition of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by seven shots.

"Today I was happy with my game. I executed a lot of great shots. It was obviously a lot of fun to be able to finally hoist an international trophy, I'm so happy about that.

“It's incredibly special. I've always dreamed of winning any Tour event, and to have this many under my belt, I don't even know what I have right now. You know, being able to win internationally is something that I've always wanted to do after winning so many times in the States and to get it at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic is incredible. It's literally a dream come true. I couldn't be more honoured to win this event."

The World Number Five had set himself the target of securing his first professional overseas win at Emirates Golf Club ahead of the event, and he duly delivered, carding an eagle, seven birdies and a single bogey on day four to finish the week on 24 under par and set a new tournament record.

“Coming back here as a professional, being an amateur in 2016, I was expecting a lot of good things. I knew I could play really well if I was striking the ball well and if I figured out some putting stuff and I did this week. I made a lot of putts with the flag in, with it out, it didn't really matter too much. But again, going back to it being my first international win, I really couldn't be more pleased to have this tournament be my first European Tour win.

“Last year I was hitting the ball really well most of the year, but it seemed like at every Major, my ball-striking kind of left me for a little bit at those Majors. That's really why I didn't play as best as I could. I believe if I have the ball-striking capabilities like I did today, and even maybe hopefully a little bit better, if I can clean up stuff like that, I can definitely contend.”

Last year's champion Li Haotong, who played alongside DeChambeau in the final round, had held the previous record after producing a winning score of 23 under in 2018.

Matt Wallace finished alone in second place on 17 under after closing his round with back-to-back birdies to sign for a 68. Englishmen Paul Waring and Ian Poulter, and Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Quiros were another stroke back in a tie for third.

“Really good in parts, really shabby in parts," said Wallace. "Not good enough to put any pressure on, but just about good enough to get second.

“I've got to take the positives from that early on in the season to get the juices flowing like that and to play with Ernie, I mean, I didn't see myself having 165 yards in for my third on the last to try and get it done, but I'll learn from that. Overall, very happy.

“I wanted to give it a go today. I really wanted to put some pressure on Bryson. He was obviously struggling and scoring well. Credit to him, he's played great today from what I hear and a worthy champion of this week and it's great to have him here. But I'll try and get him next time.”

Round 3: DeChambeau one ahead in Dubai

American Bryson DeChambeau remains on course to achieve his dream of claiming a maiden overseas victory this week after producing a 68 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

© Getty Images

“It would be awesome. I can't express to you the words how awesome it would be to win on the European Tour.”

The halfway co-leader mixed six birdies with two bogeys on day three to jump to 16 under par and establish a one-stroke lead over defending champion Li Haotong with 18 holes remaining at Emirates Golf Club.

“I'm just not 100 per cent with my golf game right now. Shoot, I'm still leading, obviously. It's fantastic. I couldn't be displeased with that, but my expectation levels are for how I know I can perform, and I feel like I'm underperforming a little bit.

“Still in the lead, still got the job done. Made it happen when it's necessary and hopefully I can have one more of those days and maybe even a better-ball striking day.

“A little more difficult I would say. The wind was up and the greens were kind of tricky. There were a couple holes that threw me off, and it is what it is. Everybody had to go through the same thing, and you know, I was lucky to prevail and I'm on top at the end of the day."

Li closed his third-round 67 with back-to-back birdies to sit alone in second place, two shots ahead of Ernie Els - a three-time winner of this event - and Englishman Matt Wallace on 13 under.

“It's pretty decent," said Li. "Actually, the long game was way better than the last couple days. It's just a solid day today.

“I changed my posture a lot and just started everything in neutral now. I think that's a big thing. Same putter. The grip was just changed back to old one.

“I did play really solid compared to the last two rounds and long game being much better. But just had a couple little bit of mistake on the greens. In total, pretty good round today.

“Definitely means a lot. I just want to play my best tomorrow and hopefully hold the trophy again.”

Lucas Herbert, who had led alongside DeChambeau after 36 holes, Challenge Tour graduate Kalle Samooja, 2011 winner Alvaro Quiros and Thorbjørn Olesen were then in a tie for fifth on 12 under.

Round 2: Bryson DeChambeau & Lucas Herbert tied for the lead heading into the weekend.

World Number Five Bryson DeChambeau carded a second successive 66 to move into a share of the halfway lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic alongside rising Australian star Lucas Herbert. 

© Getty Images

"I thought after yesterday - getting it around not making a bogey was awesome - but today was even more impressive with three bogeys on the card, still shooting six-under. I was happy about that. Unfortunately, again, I just didn't have the right sensations and proprioception over shots. I just felt uncomfortable, unfortunately, on a lot of them, and consequently my ball-striking is just not my best. But I'm not complaining one bit. There's no complaining here for sure, so I'm happy."

DeChambeau, a European Tour Member, is chasing a first overseas victory as a professional but has form at the Emirates Golf Club, having won the amateur medal thanks to a tied 18th finish at the 2016 edition, and he moved to the front on 12 under in Dubai courtesy of a roller-coaster six under par round which included one eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys.

"I'm pleased that I'm playing golf. I'm getting it in the hole and executing the right shots when I need to and making a lot of key putts. That was one of the things I talked about this week, was reading the green right, and we've done a pretty darned good job so far. Hopefully we can keep it up."

He was joined at the summit by 23 year old Herbert, who equalled his career-best round of 63 to climb thirty places up the leaderboard and move into contention for a maiden European Tour title.

Three-time Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner and four-time Major Champion Ernie Els was joined by another past winner of this event Alvaro Quiros in a share of third place on 11 under, while defending champion Li Haotong, qualifier Callum Shinkwin, Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, four-time European Tour winner Matt Wallace and Australian Jason Scrivener were all at ten under par.

"I like this place, as you know," said Els. "I've had some really great times here. I'm swinging well, my body feels well. Just going on the memory bank, I guess. Playing with Colin and José was also fun. We've done a lot in the game, and we had a good couple of chats, and I found my form. You've got to love it.

"It's obviously a little different to when I won here, the golf course. They've really grown the rough. I see the scoring is really good. I see scoring slowing down a little bit over the weekend in the afternoons. The greens were getting a little firmer, faster, but if you get it in the fairway, you give yourself second-shot opportunities, and the putter has been working for me, so it's been fun."

Round 1: Matt Fitzpatrick finishes with a flourish for Dubai lead

Matt Fitzpatrick closed his opening round 65 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic with four successive birdies to move into a one-stroke lead at Emirates Golf Club.

© Getty Images

"It was obviously a great finish to the round. A couple things that sort of I've been doing in the off-season sort of looked to have paid off a little bit, so I just added a bit of extra length to my driver, so it's given me a few yards to help get on in two on the last because I've never been able to do that. And wedging it a lot better has given me a few more chances coming in."

The Englishman, whose two most recent victories have come at the 2017 and 2018 Omega European Masters, got off to a perfect start in his first European Tour event of 2019 with an opening birdie before picking up seven more, including five in his final six holes, to move to the front on seven under.

Fitzpatrick finished runner up in the opening event of this season at November's Honma Hong Kong Open presented by Amundi, and is - alongside Swede Alex Noren - one of only two players to have won in all of the previous four European Tour seasons.

"I was really disappointed with my season last year, second in Hong Kong kind of saved it a little bit at the end of the year there, but I knew a lot of things needed to change. I needed to work on different parts of my game, different shots, and really did feel like I put in a lot of work, to be honest. So far I've played five rounds this year and have played pretty well for all of them. Hopefully it continues, it's just nice to see it pay off."

Eight players, including 2017 Masters Champion Sergio Garcia and World Number Five Bryson DeChambeau, shared second place on six under par, while defending champion Li Haotong was among those two shots back.

Sergio Garcia: "It's a new year, and I'm excited to do some good things," said Garcia. "I think that obviously I've started fairly well. Felt pretty good last week other than a couple little moments here and there. But you know, it's normal, it's the beginning of the year. Still a little bit rusty. But today was a nice solid round, and we're just going to keep it going.

"I felt like I played better as the round went on. I felt like the back nine I hit a lot of good iron shots, and because of that, I was able to score a little bit better. On the front I hit some good shots, but I didn't hit it quite as close to the flag as I would have liked to, but other than that, it was good."