Henrik Stenson withstood the combined challenges of three time champion Ernie Els, World Number One Tiger Woods, fellow Swede Niclas Fasth and England’s Ross Fisher to win the Dubai Desert Classic after a thrilling final day at the Emirates Golf Club.
A seven-foot birdie putt on the final green completed a final round of 68 for a 19 under par total 269, earning the Dubai-based Stenson a one-stroke victory over Els, his playing partner for four days.
Anyone of five players from the last two groups could have walked away with the magnificent trophy as the birdies dropped down the closing stretch.
Els saw his two-shot overnight lead wiped out when he dropped three shots in the first six holes but rallied well with three birdies coming in for a round of 71 but the World Number Five came up one short.
Courtesy of the European Tour / Image: Credit: Getty Images