European Tour Dubai Desert Classic: A week that began with Ernie Els sitting in economy ended yesterday with him celebrating one of the most dramatic victories of his illustrious career.
The 35-year-old South African's 58th professional win came when he sank a curling, 18-foot eagle putt on the 547-yard final hole of the Dubai Desert Classic and then saw long-time leader Miguel Angel Jimenez three-putt the same green.
A play-off looked the best Els, winner of the title in 1994 and 2002, could hope for when he came to the last tee in third place, behind Jimenez and Welshman Stephen Dodd.
The Ryder Cup Spaniard was favourite to win when he hit the green in two. But he was 70 feet away, and, after not reading enough break, left himself with a six-footer.
Els, meanwhile, crunched a huge drive and had only 178 yards left. With the flag close to the lake, no one had eagled the hole all day. But the world number three hit a towering six-iron and got the line of his putt exactly right.
Suddenly Jimenez's putt was to stay alive - and when it missed, Els, who was in contention for all four majors last season and did not win one of them, had this time grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat.
"Phew, man," he said. "I'm lost for words. I tell you. This is definitely a big win for me, especially the fashion I won it in.
"In the last three or four years I've won a lot and lost a lot. This is one I pulled out of the hat - a nice change for me."
A problem with his flight to the Middle East had left multi-millionaire Els with no choice but to take the middle seat in economy, and after his win he joked: "You know what they say. Start in the toilet and end in the penthouse."
Superstitious though he is, he does not intend to make a habit of such travel. But he does like the fact that on the two previous occasions he picked up this trophy he went on to land a major in the same season.
Els' closing 68 gave him the 277,878 first prize with a 19-under-par total of 269 and left Jimenez and Dodd - round in 70 and a superb 66 respectively - sharing second.
Colin Montgomerie was fourth, which was not quite enough to take him back into the world's top 50, and so he will play in China in two weeks still trying to grab a place in next month's US Masters.
Montgomerie said: "I played well, but they played better. It was a golden opportunity to win. But my last five tournaments have been super, and I've just got to start holing some more putts. I'm hitting it really well."
Paul McGinley produced a strong finish, firing a four-under-par 68 which included four birdies and an eagle at the par-five 10th to be tied 11th on 10 under par.
Damien McGrane struggled over the weekend, shooting rounds of 73 and 75 to finish near the end of the field.
Jimenez has suffered bitter disappointment at the Emirates before. In 1996 Montgomerie hit a driver off the fairway on to the last green to pip him. "I know what he's going through right now, and it's not nice," said Els.
Meanwhile, Justin Rose has confirmed that for the time being at least he has handed in his membership of the European Tour to concentrate full-time on the American circuit.
The 24-year-old has fallen to 79th in the world rankings, and because he is not exempt for the majors or world championships, he does not want to commit to 11 European events.
The membership will be taken up again as soon as he climbs back into the top 50. Rose needs it to be eligible for next year's Ryder Cup, qualification for which starts in September.
