DUBAI, 4 February 2008 — Tiger Woods gave another remarkable display to win the Dubai Desert Classic title yesterday, his seventh victory in eight tournament appearances.
The world No. 1 started the day four shots adrift of leader Ernie Els but produced a trademark last-day charge as a seven-under-par 65 earned a 14-under total of 274.
Woods, who romped to an eight-shot victory at the Buick Invitational in California last Sunday, celebrated like he had won a major championship after rolling in a long, snaking, 30-foot putt for a birdie at the last.
His four at the water-guarded 18th meant the 13-times major champion finished the tournament with the best back nine of the week, a six-under 31.
Woods reached the turn in 34 in sunny and breezy conditions at the Emirates Golf Club. A chip-in birdie from just off the 12th green then got his juices flowing and his haul of six birdies on the inward half set a clubhouse target no one could match.
“I thought I had to shoot 30 on the back nine to force a playoff,” Woods told Sky television after clinching his second Dubai triumph. “I went out there to do the best I could, shot 31 and that happened to be good enough.
“The chip-in at 12 was a lot tougher than people might think. It was sitting down in the grass, I hit it hard and it came out as soft as can be.”
German youngster Martin Kaymer, who won the Abu Dhabi Championship two weeks ago, was one stroke adrift in second place after a spectacular birdie-birdie-eagle finish gave him a 66.
World No. 5 Els (71) had to settle for third on 276 along with fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen (65). In fifth place on 278 was Briton Graeme McDowell (70).
Els, bidding for a record fourth win here, needed a birdie at the last to force a playoff but struck his second shot into the water.
It was the second time in three years the South African had found a watery grave at the 18th. He did the same when he lost a playoff to Woods in 2006.
Woods also had a scare at the last when his second shot found a tricky lie just short of a greenside bunker, meaning he had to take his stance in the sand.
“It wouldn’t have been too hard a bunker shot but when I saw it wasn’t in the bunker I started thinking I could easily chip this ball in the water,” said the 32-year-old American after ending his campaign the way it had begun, with a 65.
“But I managed to get it on the green and then my birdie putt went in.
“I felt my putting stroke was good today. Yesterday I felt a touch off but I felt I rolled the ball well today.”
Woods spared a thought for his great rival Els.
“That’s the way it goes sometimes,” said the world No. 1. “I did the same thing (at the 18th) yesterday. “People don’t realize how hard it is blowing above the grandstands here because there really aren’t any flags to indicate it.”
Woods, Kaymer and Oosthuizen were not the only players who performed well on a day of low scoring.
Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez also fired a 65 to finish in a group on eight under that included defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden (74).
