Stenson wins Dubai Desert Classic

Dubai: The final round of the Dubai Desert Classic made for riveting viewing as it brought together two of the world's top golfers, but the $400,000 winner's purse was scooped by Sweden's Henrik Stenson, a part-time Dubai resident who is ranked 14 in the world.

Stenson, who lives at the Meadows and uses the Emirates Golf Club as his winter training base, made the most of the 'home advantage' to grind out a thrilling one-stroke victory over three-time former champion Ernie Els.

The Swede, who has finished in the top 10 in his last six tournaments in the region, held off the challenge of world number one Tiger Woods and number four Els, to shoot a final round 68 for a 19-under par total of 269.

Stenson began the day two shots behind Els, but five birdies put him firmly in the driver's seat as the South African dropped three shots on the front nine.

As the advantage changed hands, so did the levels of confidence with Stenson looking the player Els and the rest of the chasing pack would have to beat.

Woods continued to struggle with his short game and despite shooting a 69, helped by six birdies, had to settle for joint third on 17-under with Sweden's Niclas Fasth.

"I fought hard all week and to beat Ernie by one is awesome," said Stenson who clinched victory by rolling in a birdie-putt on the final hole.

"Living here in Dubai and having all the local fans, my friends and family watching me this week, it feels special to win this one."

Els, a winner here in 2005, 2002 and 1994, also closed with a birdie, but it was a case of a little too late.

"I played well, but Henrik was great," said the man they call the Big Easy. "It was great playing with him for four days. Only one shot separated us. I had a good time."

Stenson threw down the gauntlet at the turn for home when he picked up the pace with birdies on the 11th, 13th and 14th. He was strong off the tee and hit the greens in regulation, culminating in the birdie-four on the 564-yard 18th which clinched the title for him.

"I hit a pretty good approach at the last and I could not have left myself a better putt than that one," he remarked afterwards.

Defending champion Woods, coming into the tournament on a hot seven-win streak, was able to raise his game and was always battling to stay in contention.

Successive bogeys on the 10th and 11th made his task all that harder and although he recovered to birdie the 13th to 15 holes, he was still in arrears.

The American put his poor form at the Majlis to his short game. "That was one of the worst putting weeks I've had in a long time," he said.

Ross Fisher, who led the tournament for two rounds, saw his chances disappear into thin air when he bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes.

However, his 71 gave him the fifth place and a purse of $101,760 - not bad at all for a youngster who once earned just 5 pounds an hour as a ball-boy.

Results

Leading final scores at the Dubai Desert Classic:
269 - Henrik Stenson (SWE) 68-64-69-68
270 - Ernie Els (RSA) 66-65-68-71
271 - Niclas Fasth (SWE) 69-69-65-68, Tiger Woods (USA) 68-67-67-69
272 - Ross Fisher (ENG) 65-65-71-71
274 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 69-65-69-71
275 - Simon Dyson (ENG) 67-69-69-70, Prom Meesawat (THA) 68-68-68-71, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 66-68-67-74
276 - Maarten Lafeber (NED) 70-71-69-66, Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 73-66, 68-69, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 67-68-71-70, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 70-67-68-71, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 70-69-66-71
277 - Johan Edfors (SWE) 72-68-69-68, Stuart Appleby (AUS) 69-69-71-68, Andrew Coltart (SCO) 69-71-67-70
278 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 67-70-72-69, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 71-67-68-72
279 - David Park (WAL) 70-70-70-69, Robert-Jan Derksen (NED) 70-66-71-72, Philip Price (WAL) 67-71-69-72, Paul Casey (ENG) 70-68-68-73, Darren Clarke (NIR) 68-70-68-73.