|
Dubai: Former three-time Dubai Desert Classic winner Ernie Els was left ruing two putt shots on the back nine as Tiger Woods crouched his way to a second win here on Sunday.
"Those two putts really cost me the tournament in the end, and that too because I played really solid coming in," Els said after his disappointing finish. Leading by two shots at the end of the third round on Saturday, "Big Easy" continued his good work yesterday with two birdies on the third and ninth holes on the front and another two on the back [on 13th and 14th].
But this was offset with three bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 18th as he ended tied third with fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen. "Yes, it has been a little disappointing. I played really good on the front nine to finish 2-under, but it could have been 4- or 5-under," Els admitted.
Dismal bogeys
And then came the two dismal bogeys that literally cost the South African the tournament. On the 11th hole, he missed a putt from about four feet and then on the next hole he missed a putt from only five feet. And then was the final hole where Els missed to clear the water hurdle to drop a shot, handing over the crown for a second time to Woods. "It may have been around 240 feet and very much in my range. But the gust of wind came up and caught it," he said.
"Tough, isn't it? I was fine mentally, but did not have anything going my way," he added.
|
