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Woods snatches victory in Dubai

03/02/2008

Tiger Woods fired a mesmerising final round of 66 to win the Dubai Desert Classic by one stroke.

The world number one, who started the day four strokes behind leader Ernie Els, played his last nine holes in six under par to finish on 14-under.

German Martin Kaymer, 23, finished in second place on 13-under after carding 66.

Els finished in joint third with Louis Oosthuizen on 12 under after going round in 71, with the South African hitting his second shot on the 18th into the lake after needing a birdie to force a play-off.

On a day of drama at the Emirates Golf Club, Oosthuizen looked to be heading to a shock victory after birdying the first three holes.

The 25-year-old then became the outright leader after three birdies and an eagle on the back nine, before a bogey six on the 18th scuppered his chances.

Woods' hopes of victory were dashed with a bogey five on the ninth. But the American then birdied the tenth, 12th, 13th, and 14th holes.

The 32-year-old produced a stunning birdie on the 17th with an uphill putt on the fringe of the green. Woods bettered that effort on the final hole with a left-to-right putt from 20 feet to clinch victory.

Woods said it was one of the most exciting rounds he had played.

"On 18 I hit a really nice drive, turned it around the corner, and hit a 5 wood up there and just flushed it," Woods said.

"I was trying to hit a high fade in there and hold up against the wind, and I thought I hit it perfect where it was going to be just past the hole and flew even further than I thought.

"Then I'm thinking it's a hard bunker shot, but really not that bad and I get down there and it's not in the bunker. And I'm thinking, I could easily chip the ball in the water."

He added: "You have to make your mistake short and if I leave it too short just chip up and try to make a par and probably not going to win the tournament but see what happens. Got to the green, and putt went in."