Keyser keeps cool to win Dubai title in a playoff
dubai — MG Keyser kept his cool when it mattered most on a steamy afternoon to win the Golf Citizen Classic, beating Spain’s Victor Bertran in a sudden-death playoff at the Els Club, Dubai, on Wednesday.
Bertran, playing in the seventh last group, carded a final round of 66 to set the clubhouse target of nine under that the South African ace, who started the day two in front, matched with a birdie on the 18th to force a playoff.
Keyser, who closed with a 73, hit the green in two on the first extra hole, the –par-5, 18th, and two-putted for birdie to seal a tense victory, becoming only the second player after England’s Zane Scotland to make it two in a row on the Mena Tour.
“It was a pretty long day out there, but luckily I managed to get the job done,” said Keyser after receiving the winner’s cup from Mark Chapleski, president, Troon International Division. Karl Whitehead, general manager of the Els Club, and Thomas Nicholson, the tournament coordinator, were also present.
“I didn’t play very good golf all day, but I know the course pretty well and that knowledge came in handy,” said Keyser, who double-bogeyed the par-5, fifth to surrender the overnight lead.
“I knew the16th and 18th are birdiable holes and I did birdie them to stay in the hunt. I have been playing on this course for the last three years or so and can say from experience that it’s the best in the Middle East, always in great condition,” said the 30-year-old South African.
“I would have loved to give it a go for a hat trick of wins on the Mena Tour, but unfortunately I have to travel to Malaysia for an Asian Development Tour event next week, but I really enjoyed playing on the Mena Tour,” said the Cape Province native.