Els times his run to perfection in Dubai

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2005 Dubai Desert Classic | Wrap | 07 Mar 2005

It is true that Ernie Els led after round one of the Dubai Classic, but when Miguel Angel Jimenez took the lead in round two, he would play the role of front runner until virtually the very last act of the tournament. It was then that Ernie Els’ amazing six iron to the par five 18th hole came to rest some twenty five feet from the hole and when he holed that he had leapfrogged past Jimenez and Stephen Dodd to claim victory.

It was Els at his very best and while the battle for the world number one raged in Florida here was the number three losing little ground in a lesser arena.

When Jimenez and Els joined in a warm embrace at the completion of 72 holes there was a distinct feeling that both were expressing mutual respect for the other’s game. Jimenez had done little wrong on day four but Els chose the exact moment to make his statement.

“Ricky (Els’ caddy) pulled a good club there,” he said later, suggesting that there had been some indecision between clubs for his second to the last.

This was Els’ third win in the event and even when he hasn’t won he has often finished well. Els has helped to elevate the status of this event to one of the most popular on the European Tour. Played over the perfectly manicured Karl Litten designed course, the tournament has regularly attracted some of the leading names in the game although this year regular visitor, Tiger Woods had other business to attend to as he took back the number one position in the game from Vijay Singh in Florida.

Jimenez is one of those golfers who goes quietly about his business but a close look at his record in recent times indicates just what a force he has become in European golf. Four wins and a second in 2004 and now a win and a second this season already has him as perhaps the most dominant force on the European Tour outside of Els and Goosen. He let no-one down here with a bold attempt to lead for most of the journey only to be run down by one of the game’s greats.

Stephen Dodd perhaps surprised with his mistake free final round of 66 to be in the clubhouse at 18 under with the hope of a playoff when the last pair of Els and Jimenez approached the 72nd hole. It is true that the 38-year-old ex-British Amateur Champion won the Volvo China Open late last year but in some 170 other events on the European Tour, Dodd has just two top threes to boast about and so this effort and the manner in which he held on will be a great boost for him.

Colin Montgomerie continues his return to the level of his game to which we had become accustomed in years gone by. His fourth placing here follows his runner up placing at the Caltex Masters in Singapore, his 11th placing at the Heineken and his 5th place at the Nissan. This effort will go close to getting him back inside the top fifty in the world and he will not stop there. He seems to be approaching his best and his continuing progress this season will be watched with interest.

The best of the Australians was David McKenzie whose last nine holes of five under catapulted him to 16th place. He shared that with New Zealander Stephen Scahill. In doing so he edged ahead of Jarrod Lyle and previous winner here, Richard Green who both shared 22nd place.

For Lyle it was further confirmation of where he is headed in the professional game. Playing here on the invitation of Emirates Airlines, Lyle got his first taste of being a tournament invite when Emirates gave he and his father John an upgrade to first class en route form Melbourne to Dubai last Monday. It was a welcome gesture as Lyle had only just returned from Christchurch where he played the NZPGA. The 23-year-old was in contention for much of the week, a double bogey at the last when a birdie was on the cards was to prove a costly finish.

Peter Fowler disappointed with a last round 74 after being in the hunt at stages eventually finishing 29th and Paul Sheehan did likewise to finish 40th. Wade Ormsby was 47th and Marcus Fraser 51st.

The European Tour now heads up the Gulf to Qatar for the Qatar Masters.