Eight years after winning his first title on The European Tour at the Emirates Golf Club, Ernie Els returned in triumph to the majestic Majlis Course to claim his tenth with a comprehensive victory in the Dubai Desert Classic.
The 32 year old started the day three shots clear of his closest challenger, Sweden’s Niclas Fasth, and ended it four ahead after a final round 69 to give him a 16 under par total of 272 and the 273,335 euro (£166,660) first prize. Fasth finished with a 70 for 276 while another Swede, Carl Pettersson, took third on 11 under par 277 after his closing 69.
The victory was Els’s third consecutive 72 hole stroke play win following his successes in the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and in the Genuity Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa on the US PGA Tour last week, the South African an incredible 50 under par cumulatively for the three tournaments.
It also moved Els to the top of the Volvo Order of Merit with 660,536 euro (£402,746) and through the seven million euro mark in career earnings on The European Tour. Els also became the first player in the 14 year history of the event to win the Dubai Desert Classic twice.
“I’ve had a great start to the season with my three wins and I’m really enjoying my golf,” said Els. “There is no reason why I shouldn’t go on from here to have a great year. Actually, it’s already a great year – I just hope I can make it even better.
The destination of the title looked to have been effectively decided on the eighth and ninth holes. Fasth had bravely clawed back his three shot overnight deficit with an eagle three at the 530 yard third and a birdie two at the short seventh, but his challenge came unstuck in dramatic fashion on the 434 yard eighth.
In a bush to the right of the fairway from the tee, the 29 year old fired his escape shot into the desert to the left of the fairway before coming up short of the green in three. A poor pitch and three putts left him with a triple bogey seven and when Els birdied the ninth moments later, his lead was four shots and the contest looked over.
However, Fasth refused to give in. The Swede matched Els’s birdie at the tenth before carding back to back birdies at the 12th and 13th to remind the South African he was still in a fight.
But when Fasth missed the 16th fairway from the tee and took bogey five as Els rolled in his fifth birdie of the day, all bets were off and the two time US Open Champion calmly parred the last two holes for victory.
“I gave it a good effort but it wasn’t to be,” said Fasth, who moved to fourth on the Volvo Order of Merit. “It took me seven holes to catch him before the disaster on the eighth.
“That was disappointing but I really tried to give it another go after that and I was pretty proud of myself for getting back and pushing him again. We certainly had a game going out there but I just didn’t knock in enough putts – I’ll get it next time.”
Third placed Pettersson continued an excellent run of form which has seen him make all eight cuts in tournaments played on The 2002 European Tour, and he moved up to sixth on the Volvo Order of Merit.
The 24 year old from Gothenburg, whose third round 65 was the best score of the four days, birdied the second and third to give him an outside chance of the title but his putter went cold after that and he had to settle for a 69 and outright third.
“I really enjoyed my day out there and playing in the last groups,” he said. “Obviously you get nervous but it is something I want to do more often. I feel my game gets better the closer I get to the top.”
Further down the final standings, Thomas Björn, who won the title memorably 12 months ago when he held off the challenge of World Number One Tiger Woods, completed his defence, and his first tournament of the year after having returned from a shoulder injury, with a 73 for a four under par total of 284 and a share of 20th place.
Another notable performance was posted by reigning Amateur Champion Michael Hoey. The Northern Ireland 22 year old, who will turn professional after next month’s Masters Tournament, finished in a tie for 12th place on five under par 283.
