McGinley goes so close

SIX years on from his last big win, 47-year-old American Mark O'Meara came, saw and conquered in Dubai yesterday.

Using a weird-looking putting grip he calls the saw, O'Meara took the Desert Classic by one from Paul McGinley to end a slump which had seen him fall from fourth in the world to 201st.

The former Masters and Open champion was handed the €267,750 first prize after a closing 69 gave him a 17-under-par total of 271.