Woods looking to end win drought at the Dubai Classic

DUBAI – Tiger Woods makes a rare appearance outside the United States when he bids for a third time to win the Dubai Desert Classic today.

Woods has tried twice previously to win the Middle East’s premier golf tournament – an integral part of the European PGA Tour’s early season schedule – but has come up short on both occasions. In 2001 he lost out to Dubai-based Thomas Bjorn, blowing it on the 72nd and last hole after playing all four rounds in the company of the Dane.And after steering clear of the Gulf region in the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, he returned in 2004 but got off to a poor start and watched close friend Mark O’Meara take the top honours.Woods took time off at the turn of the year to take stock after turning 30 and only returned to action last week when he won the Buick Invitational for the fourth time despite being, on his own admission, well below top form.By his own high standards, Woods said he needed to do better.”I won the tournament, so I had some positives,” he said.”I was able to hit the ball really good in spurts, I putted well in spurts, but I just need to make it a little bit more consistent than I did this week.”I’m looking forward to next week (in Dubai) and hopefully I can put all the pieces together.”It will be a top class field that challenges the world No.1 headed by South Africa’s Ernie Els who is on the comeback trail after several months on the sidelines during which time he had an operation on a knee injury he sustained while water-skiing.Els has blown hot and cold since returning to action and admits that the knee joint is still causing him some discomfort.But he says he is relishing the challenge of once again facing up to the American.”Tiger is looking good after his victory in the United States isn’t he,” he said.”But I’ve won here before and I like the course.I feel comfortable here.”That statement is borne out by the facts.Els is the only player to have won the Desert Classic more than once since it was inaugurated in 1989, taking the top prize in 1994, 2002 and last year and he holds the course record at 11-under 61.Compatriot Retief Goosen returns to Dubai this year making it three out of the top four players in the world and he will be looking to go one better than in 1993 when he finished runner-up to another South African Wayne Westner.There will also be a strong European contingent led by Ryder Cup stars Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez and a list of past winners in Bjorn, O’Meara, David Howell and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, the shock winner in 2003.But out with Woods and Els all eyes will be on the in-form Swede Henrik Stenson, for whom a golden future is being predicted.Based in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah, the big-hitting Stenson has grabbed the headlines in the past two weeks as the tour made its detour into the Gulf.He finished second to American Chris DiMarco in Abu Dhabi and followed up with a breakthrough win the Qatar Masters last week.Woods’ presence has boosted ticket sales by 25 percent on last year in a region where luxury golf courses are playing an ever more important role in the tourism and business sectors.-Nampa-AFPIn 2001 he lost out to Dubai-based Thomas Bjorn, blowing it on the 72nd and last hole after playing all four rounds in the company of the Dane.And after steering clear of the Gulf region in the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, he returned in 2004 but got off to a poor start and watched close friend Mark O’Meara take the top honours.Woods took time off at the turn of the year to take stock after turning 30 and only returned to action last week when he won the Buick Invitational for the fourth time despite being, on his own admission, well below top form.By his own high standards, Woods said he needed to do better.”I won the tournament, so I had some positives,” he said.”I was able to hit the ball really good in spurts, I putted well in spurts, but I just need to make it a little bit more consistent than I did this week.”I’m looking forward to next week (in Dubai) and hopefully I can put all the pieces together.”It will be a top class field that challenges the world No.1 headed by South Africa’s Ernie Els who is on the comeback trail after several months on the sidelines during which time he had an operation on a knee injury he sustained while water-skiing.Els has blown hot and cold since returning to action and admits that the knee joint is still causing him some discomfort.But he says he is relishing the challenge of once again facing up to the American.”Tiger is looking good after his victory in the United States isn’t he,” he said.”But I’ve won here before and I like the course.I feel comfortable here.”That statement is borne out by the facts.Els is the only player to have won the Desert Classic more than once since it was inaugurated in 1989, taking the top prize in 1994, 2002 and last year and he holds the course record at 11-under 61.Compatriot Retief Goosen returns to Dubai this year making it three out of the top four players in the world and he will be looking to go one better than in 1993 when he finished runner-up to another South African Wayne Westner.There will also be a strong European contingent led by Ryder Cup stars Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez and a list of past winners in Bjorn, O’Meara, David Howell and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, the shock winner in 2003.But out with Woods and Els all eyes will be on the in-form Swede Henrik Stenson, for whom a golden future is being predicted.Based in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah, the big-hitting Stenson has grabbed the headlines in the past two weeks as the tour made its detour into the Gulf.He finished second to American Chris DiMarco in Abu Dhabi and followed up with a breakthrough win the Qatar Masters last week.Woods’ presence has boosted ticket sales by 25 percent on last year in a region where luxury golf courses are playing an ever more important role in the tourism and business sectors.-Nampa-AFP