Spanish streak continues in Dubai

• By Golf Channel Digital
• Feb 12, 2012 4:29 PM ET

Rafael Cabrera-Bello became the third consecutive Spaniard to win the Dubai Desert Classic.

Cabrera-Bello, 27, won in the emirate to notch his second European Tour win, prevailing by a shot over Stephen Gallacher.

Last year, Alvaro Quiros took the title and, two years ago, Miguel Angel-Jimenez was the champion.

Cabrera-Bello is also the fifth different Spaniard to win the Dubai Desert Classic. Of the 20 players to win in Dubai, Spain can claim the most. The United States is second with three winners and four championships. South Africa also boasts four wins between two champions, with Ernie Els owning three.

This kind of Spanish streak, however, is not all that rare. Spaniards took the Iberdrola Open in their home country from 2003-05. Miguel Angel Jiménez won in 2003, followed by Sergio Garcia and José María Olazábal.

The last time three different players from the same country have won an event in three consecutive years came last October when Lee Slattery became the third straight Englishman to win the Madrid Masters, preceded by Luke Donald and Ross McGowan. Last May, Luke Donald became the third Englishman in a row to win the BMW PGA Championship. Simon Khan and Paul Casey won in 2010 and ’09, respectively.

Englishmen will also go for three in a row at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in May.