Ernie Els clinches Dubai title

South Africa's Ernie Els fired a closing 69 as he romped to a four-shot victory in the Dubai Desert Classic today and collected…

South Africa's Ernie Els fired a closing 69 as he romped to a four-shot victory in the Dubai Desert Classic today and collected his third title of the year.

The world number three, who held off a last-day charge by Tiger Woods to win last week's Genuity Championship in the United States, finished with a 16-under-par 272.

Sweden's Niclas Fasth carded a 70 for second place at 276, while compatriot Carl Petterson returned a 69 to finish third a further shot back.

Els, whose first victory of the year came at last month's Heineken Classic in Australia, posted back-to-back titles for the first time since 1997.

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The South African recorded the first European Tour win of his career by winning the 1994 Dubai Desert Classic.

Irish amateur Michael Hoey finished on five under for the tournament while fellow Irishmen Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington were six under and four under respectively.