DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Only one former winner didn’t play in Tuesday’s Champions Challenge at the Dubai Desert Classic, but he was well represented.
The late Seve Ballesteros, who won the event in 1992, was represented in the Challenge field by his son, Javier Ballesteros, who endured an emotional start on the first tee.
Ballesteros shot a 2-over 74 and finished just three shots behind world No. 1 Tiger Woods but well off the pace set by co-champions Henrik Stenson and Rafael Cabrera-Bello (66).
“It’s an honor to play here for my dad,” said Ballesteros, an amateur who tees off on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. “What my dad did was fantastic and I just try to be myself and play golf. Missing a few drivers on the first few, it’s normal, nothing really very strange. I don’t feel pressure.”