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The Debrief: 2020 Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World
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The Debrief: 2020 Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World

Everything you need to know from a low scoring week at the 2020 Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.

Antoine Rozner

Antoine Rozner overcame a four shot deficit to sign a superb final 64 and claim his maiden European Tour title by two strokes.

Here is everything you need to know from a low scoring week at Jumeirah Golf Estates - Fire Course.

Another first time winner in Dubai

Frenchman Rozner became the 14th first time winner on the 2020 Race to Dubai following his splendid eight under par final round which saw him card an eagle, seven birdies and one dropped shot - two ahead of long time leader Andy Sullivan, Matt Wallace, compatriot Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Italian Francesco Laporta. "So many feelings. I’ve been close twice this year in Mauritius and in Valderrama, I couldn’t close it out, so I’m just very happy with how I played this week and especially today," Rozner said. "A 64 on a Sunday is always a pretty good score so to get it done in this fashion was a big deal for me. To be honest I had no idea what was going on. I just knew Mike was playing well because I saw his name pop up at some point on the leaderboards. I only knew I was the leader when I was on the 18th green. I think that actually helped me a little bit."

Crocker's hot irons

American Sean Crocker was in fine form with his irons in Dubai. In his third round on Friday, he found the rough with his tee shot at the par three eighth. He chipped to the fringe of the green and the ball rolled at speed towards the flag. Luckily, his effort rattled into the pin and dropped for an unlikely birdie two. And the 24-year-old was the closest player to an ace of the tournament on Saturday. Playing partners Swede Joakim Lagregren and Scotland's Marc Warren dialled into concessional range at the 11th but Crocker took aim at the pin, only for his effort to lip out. There were only three birdies on the hole when the group arrived at the tee and the trio doubled that tally when they finished.

Sullivan nearly makes 59 history

The Fire Course was making its European Tour debut and Sullivan lived up to the course name with a blistering 11 under par first round on Wednesday. He was flawless as he carded 11 birdies and came within a whisker of becoming the second player to card a 59 in European Tour history. After picking up his 11th shot at the seventh - he started on the back nine - he needed to go two under in the final two holes to join Oli Fisher in the history books. Sullivan narrowly missed a lengthy birdie putt at the eighth and needed to hole out in two at the ninth. His approach left him with a seven foot putt for a 60 but he pushed the effort left of the cup. However, he still produced a wonderful round of 61.

Andy Sullivan

MLV's stunning wedge

Lorenzo-Vera became Sullivan's leading contender during the early stages of Saturday's final round before Rozner got hot around the turn. As his fellow Frenchman mounted his assault, Lorenzo-Vera kept in contention with this remarkable flop shot at the 13th hole for a tap-in birdie.

Howie's roller coaster ride in Dubai

Craig Howie enjoyed a roller coaster opening 11 holes in his second round on Thursday. The Scot mixed six birdies with three dropped shots and two pars as he briefly held the lead at the Fire Course. The 26-year-old got hot just before the turn as he reeled in five straight birdies from the fifth - following a bogey at the fourth - to propel himself to 13 under before a bogey-bogey start to his back nine. The last time Howie played in the UAE was as an amateur when he carded a first round of 94.

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