Ice-cool Stenson takes Dubai crown

Henrik Stenson is the new Dubai Desert Classic champion after keeping his cool on the 18th hole to sink the winning putt and edge Ernie Els by one stroke.

The Swede last year won the Commercialbank Qatar Masters and he kept his fine form in the Middle East going by carding a four-under-par 68 to finish 19 under for the tournament.

The top of the leaderboard was ever changing throughout the final day but Stenson made the breakthrough on the 14th when he added his fourth birdie of the day to go one shot clear.

The 30-year-old set himself up for a birdie putt on the 18th which, if he missed, would have meant a play-off with Els.

However, Stenson remained calm to sink the putt from eight feet and win the £203,470 prize money.

Three-time Classic winner Els did, however, win his personal battle with defending champion Tiger Woods.

The 37-year-old finished above the world number one in second place to amend for his agonising play-off defeat at the Emirates Golf Club last year.

Woods, meanwhile, finished third with a disappointing start to the back nine proving to be his undoing.

The 12-time major winner was tied at the top after the turn but shot successive bogeys on the 10th and 11th to slip away from the leaders.

Three successive birdies from the 13th brought him back into contention and though he added another on the 18th it was too little too late as he finished with a three-under-par 69, 17-under overall.

Niclas Fasth finished alongside Woods after he carded a four-under 68.

The Swede shot birdies on the first and second but dropped a shot on the par-three fourth and though he enjoyed a faultless run coming home, adding three birdies, it was not enough to deny Stenson.

Ross Fisher, whose lead in the tournament was only ended yesterday, dropped to fourth after carding a one-under-par 71.

It looked to be going well for the 26-year-old when he made birdies on the third and fourth but he struggled to recover from a double bogey on the eighth, making three more birdies and two bogeys coming home.

Colin Montgomerie finished 12 under after carding a final round of three-under-par 69.

The Scot made slow progress on the outward nine, dropping a shot on the eighth and making par on the rest.

But he fared better coming home as he shot five birdies and just one more bogey.

Paul Casey and Darren Clarke finished nine under after they both carded a disappointing one-over-par 73. Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood were a shot further back.

Damien McGrane finished on six under with Graeme McDowell one behind and amateur Rory McIlroy finishing on three under.