All is well that ends well on the Desert Swing for Martin Kaymer

Germany’s Martin Kaymer can afford a wink and a smile during his final round of the Dubai Desert Classic. Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images

DUBAI // After signing his card at the end of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Martin Kaymer would have been forgiven for peering in on Rory McIlroy and thinking: “Ah, so that is how it is supposed to be done.”

The German brought the curtain down on an eventful Desert Swing in fine fashion, posting an eight-under par 64, to propel him into a tie for fourth place.

So chuffed was he with his finish, at the end of it he said: “I wish we could have a major here,” and added that the UAE “is probably one of the best places in the world to be and play golf”.

Which might not have been exactly the same review he would have given two weeks ago when he surrendered a 10-stroke lead to throw away the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

McIlroy’s final-round 70 may have lacked his trademark aggression and flamboyant shot making.

But it gave a few pointers to the rest on just how to close out a win from the front.

“You always have to keep fighting,” Kaymer said of the lessons he has learnt over the past month in the Middle East.

“If you lead by five, six, 10 shots, whatever it is, you always have to keep going. You need to find a way to win by 12.”

Whatever challenges present themselves, there is always someone worse off.

Kaymer conceded he had taken solace from Tiger Woods, a former two-time winner of the Classic, missing the cut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in the United States this weekend.

“I read on Twitter that Phil Mickelson and Tiger both missed the cut in Phoenix,” he said.

“Tiger almost finished last and he’s the best player who has ever played the game, at least in my era. We always have to remember we are all humans.”

To put Kaymer’s final-round charge, in blowy weather, into context, his three-ball went out 14 matches ahead of McIlroy’s final group.

As such, he was too far behind to seriously challenge for the ­title.

But, with the world No 1 in this sort of form, so was everybody.

Given the golfing miracles Stephen Gallacher has produced at Emirates Golf Club in recent years, he might have been seen as the most likely threat to the Northern Irishman at the start of yesterday’s final round.

The defending champion made a few cameos for the highlight reel, as he threatened to produce his traditional assault on the final nine holes.

His tee shot at the 11th lipped out to make it twice in two days he had been within touching distance of an ace.

Then he chipped in from the rough at the side of the green at the next.

These were the sort of tricks he saved for the last few holes in each of his two wins here in the past two years.

But his momentum was clipped by a bogey at the 14th, and his race was run.

“It has been a good hunting ground for me,” said Gallacher, whose third-place finish follows two firsts and a second at the Classic.

“It was tough out there today and tough to chase the world’s No 1 from so far back.

“We were playing for second place and I’m delighted with my performance.”

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