Golf: Els tips Fasth to bounce back

Ernie Els has predicted Niclas Fasth will be a valuable asset to the European Ryder Cup team after beating him to the Dubai Desert Classic title.

Els carded a final-round 69 at Emirates Golf Club to claim back-to-back titles for the first time since 1997 following his first victory on the USPGA Tour for more than 18 months last Sunday.

The South African’s 16-under-par total of 272 gave him a four-shot victory over playing partner Fasth, with another Swede, Carl Pettersson, a shot further back and England’s Brian Davis in fourth on nine under.

But the double US Open winner was sure of victory only after the 16th hole as Fasth made him fight all the way to become the first player to win the title twice, eight years after setting the course record of 61 on his way to a six-shot win over Greg Norman.

Fasth wiped out the 32-year-old’s three-shot overnight advantage within seven holes with an eagle on the third and birdie on the seventh, but then dropped four behind after running up a triple-bogey seven on the eighth that all high-handicap amateurs could identify with.

The 29-year-old from Gothenburg who has won just one European Tour title but sealed his Ryder Cup place by finishing second in the Open last year refused to buckle, however, and reduced his deficit by half, only to drop another shot on the 16th as Els made the birdie that sealed victory.

‘‘He was really putting a lot of pressure on me,’’ admitted Els. ‘‘I don’t think he missed a shot in the first seven holes. He played awesome. If he had not made that seven he could easily have been sat here.

‘‘I think this year’s going to be great for him. He’s at ease with his selection for the Ryder Cup and he’s really showing the guys he can play.

‘‘I’ve heard some comments that people have made about him and he’s got to go out there and show them, and he’s doing that at the moment.

‘‘He’s an excellent player, an excellent ball striker, a great putter. He really played well, kept on being aggressive and he wasn’t scared. I guess he’s going to be a great asset for the European team.’’

Fasth said: ‘‘Before I came here I felt like I was in good form. I felt it was my tournament but it wasn’t to be.

‘‘I gave it a good effort and it took me seven holes to catch him before obviously the disaster on the eighth. It was disappointing but I really tried to give it another go after that and I was pretty proud of myself for getting back and pushing him again, and we certainly had a match going until the 16th.

‘‘I didn’t knock in enough putts maybe but, of course, it is hard to take a triple bogey and still win. I’ll get it next time.’’

The victory was Els’ third in a row in strokeplay tournaments, for which he is a collective 50 under par. He won the Heineken Classic in Melbourne on the European Tour before playing in the World Matchplay in California a fortnight ago, followed by wins in the Genuity Championship in Florida and here.

Next up will be two tournaments in America after an 18-hour flight this evening, and the build-up to the first major of the year, the US Masters at Augusta.

‘‘So far so good,’’ said Els. ‘‘I’ve had a really great start to my season with two wins. I’m really enjoying it. It’s already a good year and lets hope it gets better.

‘‘I’d like to keep it going for another two weeks and then I have two weeks off before the Masters. I played it a couple of weeks ago and saw the changes to the course. I have form and there is no reason why I should not play to it. I should be in with a chance.’’