Tiger Wins Dubai Classic

The massive win prize that was on offer to the winner of the Dubai Classic went to Tiger Woods, his fourth straight tournament win. Here is the full report on the Dubai Classic.

Tiger Woods had five birdies in his last seven holes to come home in 31 on his way to a one-shot victory in the Dubai Desert Classic.

The world number one started the day in a tie for fifth place, four shots adrift of third round leader Ernie Els.

Three birdies in his first four holes got him to within striking distance, only for his challenge to stutter with bogeys at the sixth and ninth.

But he stormed home with seven birdies in a flawless back nine and when Els found water with his second shot at 18, Woods had his fourth straight tournament win.

Target

Germany's Martin Kaymer - winner two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi - set the early target with a 66 for 13-under-par, but after Woods chipped in at 12 he set about overhauling that.

He drew level with a 10-foot birdie putt at 17 and then holed from 20 feet at 18 for birdie after an uncharacteristically poor chip.

That got him to 14-under, but Els could have forced a play-off with a birdie at the par five 18th.

The South African three-time former champion hit a fine drive but necked his fairway wood into the water in front of the green and ended up taking six.

That gave Kaymer second place on his own, with Els tied third alongside fellow countryman Louis Oosthuizen.The world number five has now finished inside the top three in each of his
last seven visits to Dubai.

Defending

Oosthuizen was eight under for the day on the 18th tee but also took six.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson started the day in second place and played superbly tee-to-green for 16 holes, but could not buy a putt. The Swede had only one birdie - at the second - and his challenge disintegrated as he finished five, seven.

Lee Westwood also struggled after starting in third, a 73 giving him a seven-under total. That was just good enough to give the English Ryder Cup star his 11th top 10 from his last 12 tournaments.