'I'm not too disappointed'

Dubai: Ernie Els was not too disappointed after ending runner-up a second year straight here at the Dubai Desert Classic.

"I think I did okay, I'm not too disappointed," Els said after failing to catch up with Sweden's Henrik Stenson here yesterday.

"I'm not too far off. I'm striking the putts nicely. I just have to find the one stroke that I am happy with.

"Sometimes I go a little long, slow one and sometimes a little compact one. Just got to get those going," the "Big Easy" said.

Els is the only player who has won the Dubai Desert Classic on three occasions (in 1994, 2002 and 2005). He had given himself a realistic chance of getting his name on the trophy after a strong round yesterday.

Giving a chance

"I played well. I knew after the start that I just wanted to give myself a chance coming down the stretch. I really go out of sorts on the greens and a couple of bad swings," Els said of his game.

But he got himself under control as the day progressed.

"Unfortunately, the weather started fluctuating and nothing seemed all that easy for the best.

"It was a real battle - who could make putts and who could hit the right shot in there," the South African said.

The real change came on the 13th and 17th holes where the South African hit bunker shots that came out left to right past the hole.