Coby Carruthers basically decided the Abu Dhabi Challenge himself. He ambled up to the first tee looking like he was just popping out for a quick pint, and somehow ended up with the trophy. He led from the very first swing to the very last, a wire-to-wire masterclass that probably had his playing partners seriously considering taking up bird-watching instead.
While Carruthers took a victory lap that would make Caesar jealous – if Caesar wore moisture-wicking fabrics, that is – the rest of the lads were left scrambling for table scraps. James Meyer de Beco, a chap who looked like he’d just had a very stern chat with his putter, managed a respectable second place, a single shot back. You just know his putter is getting the silent treatment in the locker room.
Matthis Besard and Michael Hirmer ended up in a bit of a mutual misery pact at -6, sharing third. It’s like they collectively couldn’t quite shake off the leader, a sort of shared sporting sigh. Let's hope their post-round debriefs are less existential dread and more "maybe I should try a different ball marker." For Carruthers, though, that desert air must taste like pure victory. It wasn't so much a competition as a private viewing of his own brilliance.