Of Spanish Golfers and an Oversized Arabian Coffee Pot

We've written about weird/wonderful golf trophies several times in the past, touching on the whimsicality of some and the creepiness of others.

One of the most impressive however, has got to be the massive Arabian coffee pot awarded to the winner of the Dubai Desert Classic.

This past week the gigantic carafe was on display again.  Throughout the week, it sat on the sidelines at Emirates Golf Club as a strong field of players battled it out on the course.

In the end it was Rafael Cabrera-Bello who won the pot trophy,  holding off a strong field that included Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer ...among others.  It was the third time... in three years... that a Spanish champion emerged victorious at this event.  You may remember our posts on the victories of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alvaro Quiros who won in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

This year however, the win was Rafa's, and when the time came to kiss the trophy, he chose to bite it instead.  That's a Spanish thing too,  initiated by another athletic Rafa, tennis star Rafael Nadal.  Many have asked what the gesture signifies, and I don't really know the answer to that.  I just know it's caught on, and now professional and amateur athletes in various sports are doing it... all over the world.

The victory was undoubtedly a huge for Señor Cabrera-Bello who hasn't had a win since October 2009 at the Austrian Open.  It's a stellar start to his season... and the ginormous Arabian coffee pot looks like it was quite a mouthful.

Pablo Martin: Dunhill Defense & Race to Dubai Redux

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Pablo Martin 2009/2010
Alfred Dunhill Championship

Exactly one year ago upon winning the 2009/2010 Alfred Dunhill Championship, Pablo Martin proudly cradled the regal looking bronze leopard trophy.

His down to the wire, one-stroke victory over Charl Schwartzel at Leopard Creek Country Club  had earned him the impressive trophy and made him the first golfer to win on the European tour as both an amateur and a professional.  It also earned him a short-lived lead in the 2010 Race to Dubai.

Pablo Martin 2010/2011
Alfred Dunhill Championship

Flash forward 365 days and the picture is practically identical:  Same young man (he's only 24-years-old)... same beautiful course... same stately sculpted leopard.   There was even another nail-biting finish.  The only major difference being that with his  2010/2011 Alfred Dunhill Championship win the Spaniard becomes the first man to retain a Euro Tour title since Padraig Harrington won a second straight British Open in 2008.

And in what's been a banner year for athletes from Spain, Pablo Martin's successful title defense is one more reason for Spanish sports fans to celebrate. ¡Claro que si! Felicitaciones a Pablo y a España.

December 12, 2009 - Photos by Warren Little/Getty Images Europe