South Africa’s Ernie Els claimed an unprecedented third Dubai Desert Classic title after a dramatic eagle three on the final hole carried him past Welshman Stephen Dodd and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez.
The World Number Three, who won the title in 1994 and 2002, posted a final round of 68 over the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club for a 19 under par total of 269, one clear of Dodd and Jiménez with Scot Colin Montgomerie fourth after a final round 69 took him to 16 under par 272.
Trailing playing partner Jiménez and Dodd, who had moments earlier birdied the 18th to move to 18 under par, as he stood on the final tee, Els hit a monstrous drive to cut the corner off the dog-leg. Left with 178 yards to the hole, Els hit a brilliant six iron approach to 22 feet away and he calmly stroked the ball home, punching the air as it dropped. The fact that he was the only player to eagle the 18th on the final day underlined his achievement.
Jiménez, who had done little wrong all week, was also on the green in two but some distance from the hole and when his first putt pulled up short, was left with a tricky six footer to tie. Agonisingly, the ball slipped by the hole and he was left to rue what might have been. A final round of 70, two under par, left him just one shy of Els in his bid to win a sixth title in 14 months.
“That putt was right up there (with the best),” said Els, who won €277,877 for his 19th European Tour title and moved to second on The European Tour Order of Merit. “I felt good on that one for some reason, could see the line. It was a great feeling when it went in.
“This is part of my run-up to April and the Masters. I needed a win, I needed to play really well before the Masters and to do it after a three week break makes me very happy. This was a big win. I’ve had some near misses where it looked like I should have or could have won, but I didn’t, and this one I pulled out of a hat.”
The omens for Major Championship success are now good as both his previous successes in the Dubai Desert Classic have been followed my Major victories as in 1994 he won the first of his two US Open titles and in 2002 he won the The Open.
Few expected such as dramatic finale as nothing seemed to be going Els’s way. A dropped shot on the first gave Jiménez a two stroke cushion and throughout the final afternoon, the Ryder Cup player remained just out of reach until the final hole.
“It was hard to lose,” said Jiménez. “It was a nice comeback from Ernie the last two days. But that’s the game of golf. Someone has to finish first, second third and fourth.”
In fact it was Dodd who was emerging as the main threat as the Welshman rolled in putt after putt. Three birdies on the front nine, including an outrageous putt on the seventh for a two, took him out in 32, and over the back nine he refused to buckle. Over the final three holes in particular he holed some great clutch putts, saving par on the 16th and 17th holes from seven and 12 feet respectively and then birdieing the last by holing another seven footer. His final round of 66, six under par, was bettered by only one other player, Steve Webster, in the field. An 18 under par total of 270 earned Dodd his largest cheque of €144,812 and lifted him to sixth on The European Tour Order of Merit.
“I played poorly yesterday but it was a lot better today for some reason,” said Dodd, playing with a new found confidence following his win in the Volvo China Open at the start of the season. “For whatever reason, some days it is an easy game and some days it is a tough game. Today it was a bit easier. I holed a lot of good putts which makes a difference between a good score and a mediocre score. It was a nice week for me.”
Montgomerie needed to finish second to climb into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings and earn a place in the Masters Tournament and although he came up just short this week, made progress and can head to the TCL Classic in China with plenty of confidence.
“I didn’t hole anything really,” he said. “Jiménez and Els were not doing what you expected. It was a golden opportunity to win. But 16 under par is good golf and there’s nothing wrong with it. I am hitting the ball great and just need to hole some more putts.”
