With this win Ernie Els secured his 20th European Tour International Schedule victory on his debut in the Qatar Masters and his 159th European Tour event overall. It was also his second victory on the 2005 European Tour International Schedule.
His 55th world wide victory as a professional
Fourth consecutive year he has recorded multiple victories on The European Tour
The 68th South African victory on The European Tour
Follows Charl Schwartzel (dunhill championship), Tim Clark (South African Airways Open) and Els himself (Dubai Desert Classic) as South African winners on the 2005 European Tour International Schedule
Takes his official European Tour Career Earnings to €16,454,287 million
Moves to the top of the European Tour Order of Merit with €555,286
First player to win consecutive events on the European Tour International Schedule since Vijay Singh at the 2001 Carlsberg Malaysian Open and Caltex Singapore Masters
The first time Els has won consecutive events on The European Tour
Began the final day five shots behind the leader, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, making it the biggest final round comeback of the 2005 European Tour season to date, beating the four shots set by Niclas Fasth at the Holden New Zealand Open
Els’’ final recovery marked the biggest on The European Tour since Thomas Levet made up seven strokes to win the 2004 Barclays Scottish Open
Els’’ five shot winning comeback is the largest in Qatar Masters history, beating the two shots of Andrew Coltart in 1998 and Joakim Haeggman in 2004
Els’’ final round 65 (-7) equals the lowest final round by a winner in the history of the event, set by Joakim Haeggman in 2004
The 28th time in European Tour history the same player has won consecutive events
His seven shot deficit made up after 36 holes is the largest comeback on The European Tour in 2005
Is 31 under par for his eight rounds in the Desert – 19 under at the Dubai Desert Classic and 12 under at the Qatar Masters
