Tiger Woods gave another remarkable display to win the Dubai
Desert Classic Sunday, his seventh victory in eight tournament
appearances.
The world No. 1 started the day four shots adrift of leader
Ernie Els but produced a trademark last-day charge as a
seven-under-par 65 earned a 14-under total of 274 at the Emirates
Golf Club.
Woods, who romped to an eight-shot victory at the Buick
Invitational in California a week ago, celebrated like he had won a
major championship after rolling in a long, snaking, 30-foot putt
for a birdie at the last.
His four at the water-guarded 18th meant the 13-time major
champion finished the tournament with the best back nine of the
week, a six-under 31.
Woods went to the turn in 34 but a chip-in birdie at the 12th
got his juices flowing and his haul of six birdies on the inward
half set a clubhouse target no one could match.
"I thought I had to shoot 30 on the back nine to force a
playoff," Woods told Sky television. "I went out there to do the
best I could, shot 31 and that happened to be good enough."
German youngster Martin Kaymer was one stroke adrift in second
place after a spectacular birdie-birdie-eagle finish gave him a
66.
Three-time champion Els went to the last hole needing a birdie
to tie but wound up with a bogey 6 after a wayward teeshot. His 71
gave him a 12-under total of 276 for a share of third place with
South African compatriot Louis Oosthuizen, who finished with a
65.
In Melbourne, Karrie Webb yesterday won her fourth Women's
Australian Open title with a 3-meter birdie putt on the second hole
of a playoff against South Korea's Shin Ji-yai.
Webb, who won last year's title at Royal Sydney, and Shin
finished with closing 67s at Kingston Heath and 8-under totals of
284.
Both players parred the 18th on the first hole of the playoff
before Webb's winning putt on the same hole 15 minutes later in the
joint Australian-European tour event.
When Webb's putt dropped, the Australian raised her head towards
the sky, then pumped her fist twice. Shin applauded Webb's winning
putt from across the green, clapping her hands vigorously.
Webb birdied the 16th and 17th holes of her final round to force
the playoff. Shin had birdied four of six holes on the back nine
and was in the clubhouse with a two-stroke lead when Webb rallied
with her late birdies.
Webb, who started the final round two shots off the lead, said
she hadn't looked at the leaderboard late in her round.
"I was quite surprised on the 15th green that I was two shots
behind," Webb said. "I knew that Shin wasn't going to make any
mistakes coming in."
England's Melissa Reid finished third, four strokes back after a
70, while South Korea's Amy Yang was two shots further back, also
with a closing 3-under 70.
Four-time major winner Laura Davies of England, whose 79 on
Saturday put her out of contention, shot a 74 yesterday and
finished at 10-over 302, 18 strokes back of Webb and Shin.
(Shanghai Daily February 4, 2008)
