Stenson further confirms star status in Dubai

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2007 Dubai Desert Classic | Round Four | 04 Feb 2007

It had to happen. Henrik Stenson has been building up such a head of steam that something had to give and for the 30-year-old Swede it would be in what is effectively his second home in Dubai that everything fell into place.

Stenson’s one shot win over Ernie Els in today’s Dubai Desert Classic has further enhanced his growing reputation and in all likelihood, given the strength of the field he beat this week, he could well find himself inside the top ten – and ’with a bullet’ as they say in music circles by the time the new rankings are published on Monday.

Stenson has threatened to win in nearly every start since his last win nine starts ago at the BMW International Open in Germany. In his last three starts he has been runner up at the Nedbank Challenge, and had top tens in each of his last two starts in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Things were building to a crescendo and it all fell into place in Dubai where he spends much of his time away from the Tour.

“I fought hard all week but to beat Ernie at the last was just awesome,” he said immediately after his round. “Living here and doing so in front of my friends and family makes it even more special,” he added. “I am now looking forward to a break before heading to the Accenture Match Play.”

In what developed into an enthralling and captivating last nine holes, five players had genuine chances to win the event. As the last group made the turn Stenson was in the process of dropping a shot after hitting his approach onto the corporate marquees and being forced to take a drop. At that point he shared the lead with Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Ross Fisher the latter of whom, playing in the group ahead, had taken double bogey at the 8th after a fast start to his final round.

Fisher bounced back at the 10th when he holed from 7 feet at the 10th to take the lead by one, while, playing in the same group, Woods three putted from 12 feet to slip two behind. Niclas Fasth joined the group one behind Fisher after he had knocked his approach to 3 feet at the 10th.

Playing in the last group, Ernie Els hit two great shots to the 10th and two putted for birdie and he shared the lead with Fisher. Ahead, Woods was playing the par three 11th and pulled his tee shot slightly. It rolled off the green and when he chunked his next into the bunker in front of him and took bogey, he was back at 13 under and his chance appeared to be gone. So did the belief that most of the spectators had in Woods immortality.

Stenson hit a great tee shot at the 11th to 10 feet and when that went in he had joined the party at 16 under, a group that increased in number when Fasth hit his approach to 4 feet at the 12th hole and made birdie.

Fisher broke the deadlock again at the 13th when he two putted for birdie and he was one ahead of Els, Fasth and Stenson and, although that group appeared at that point to have the race to themselves, Woods was getting going again. He two putted the 13th for birdie, then holed a 35 foot putt at the 14th to go to 15 under and was within two of Fisher and Stenson, the latter of whom had just two putted the 13th for another birdie.

Over the next two holes, and within the space of three minutes, things began to get very bizarre. Els pulled his second left at the 14th and found the bunker. It was not an easy bunker shot but the ball hit the flagstick and fell in and Els was at 17 under and shared the lead with Stenson and Fisher.

Ahead at the 15th Woods hit a tee shot that was long and right but only just off the green. A delightful little pitch found the bottom of the hole and he had birdied three in a row and was back knocking on the door of the leaders. It was all a little much to keep track of.

At the 14th Stenson himself holed a lengthy birdie putt to go ahead on his own at 18 under, leading by a shot from Els and Stenson with Woods one further back with Stenson. Stenson made a great par save at the 15th while Els two putted for par.

At the 16th Fisher produced the first of two consecutive bogies when he drove it in the rough and came up short with his second to the par four. In the meantime Fasth hit a brilliant approach to three feet and made it to go to 17 under while Woods had a chance to join him but missed from slightly longer range.

At the 16th both Els and Stenson made pars although Els had to get up and down to do so. Both had makeable birdie chances at the 17th but missed and so to the 18th tee where Stenson led by one over Fasth and Els and by two over Woods.

Stenson hit first and found the fairway with a three wood. Els knowing he likely needed an eagle at the par five, took the driver but pulled his tee shot a little. It was perhaps unlucky it caught the very edge of the left rough although it lay reasonably well. In the group ahead Woods had birdied the last to move to 17 under and one behind the leader a position he held with Fasth who had made par at his final hole.

Stenson laid up with his second while Els found the back of the green with his second from the rough. After Stenson had hit his approach to ten feet, Els ran his eagle putt down to three feet. Stenson could finish it all there and then and when his putt went straight in the middle it was all over. Els made his anyway to finish in outright second ahead of Woods who had birdied four of the last six holes to nearly pull off an unlikely victory.

For Stenson his victory would move him from 23rd to 5th on the European Tour money list.

The Australians were headed by Stuart Appleby who, as he had done last week in Qatar, put a special round together on the final day. This time however he was brought undone by finding the water at the last and the resultant double bogey saw him finish with 68 and in 15th position.

Richard Green was 34th while Greg Norman defied the odds and logic to make the cut before a final round saw him finish well back. It was however another impressive performance by Norman who, given his lack of tournament play, did well just to make the weekend.

The European Tour now heads to Malaysia where the co-sanctioned Malaysian Open begins on Thursday.