Golf-I'd much rather win by a distance, says Dubai winner Woods
By Tony Jimenez
DUBAI, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods gave a sigh of relief after following his eight-shot triumph at last week's Buick Invitational in California with a battling one-stroke win at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.
Asked by reporters which victory gave him more fun, the world number one replied: "I like seven or eight a lot more. It is a lot less stressful".
Woods, who provided a series of trademark fist-pumps and roared with delight when his 30-foot birdie putt at the 18th gave him a seven-under-par 65 and a 14-under tally of 274, said he thought he had ruined his chances earlier in the round.
The 13-times major champion started the day four shots behind overnight leader Ernie Els and had to claw his way back into contention in sunny and breezy conditions at the Emirates Golf Club.
"I birdied three of the first four holes and next thing you know I'm right in it," said Woods after clinching his second Dubai title. "Then I bogey the sixth and ninth and I have played myself right out of it.
"I had to shoot something low on the back nine to get myself back in the tournament, then all of a sudden Ernie had made a couple of mistakes.
"Those mistakes gave me a chance," added Woods after an extraordinary back nine of 31, the best of the week, took him surging through the field.
The 32-year-old American has now won seven of his last eight tournaments, including his first two of 2008.
"It's an ideal start," said Woods. "To go two for two, it's pretty good."
World number five Els needed a birdie four at the long 18th to force a playoff and struck his second shot into the water.
"I had 240 yards to the hole which is very much in my range but a gust came up and caught the ball," he said after finishing joint third on 276.
"The shot was right where I wanted it but I could see a gust of wind got it in the air and it didn't have much of a chance in the end."
Els, playing his first tournament of the year, looked back ruefully on two successive bogeys he made earlier in the round.
"I missed from four feet at the 11th," he said. "That was a big miss.
"Then I missed another five-footer on 12. Those two putts really cost me the tournament." (Editing by Clare Fallon)
DUBAI, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods gave a sigh of relief after following his eight-shot triumph at last week's Buick Invitational in California with a battling one-stroke win at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.
Asked by reporters which victory gave him more fun, the world number one replied: "I like seven or eight a lot more. It is a lot less stressful".
Woods, who provided a series of trademark fist-pumps and roared with delight when his 30-foot birdie putt at the 18th gave him a seven-under-par 65 and a 14-under tally of 274, said he thought he had ruined his chances earlier in the round.
The 13-times major champion started the day four shots behind overnight leader Ernie Els and had to claw his way back into contention in sunny and breezy conditions at the Emirates Golf Club.
"I birdied three of the first four holes and next thing you know I'm right in it," said Woods after clinching his second Dubai title. "Then I bogey the sixth and ninth and I have played myself right out of it.
"I had to shoot something low on the back nine to get myself back in the tournament, then all of a sudden Ernie had made a couple of mistakes.
"Those mistakes gave me a chance," added Woods after an extraordinary back nine of 31, the best of the week, took him surging through the field.
The 32-year-old American has now won seven of his last eight tournaments, including his first two of 2008.
"It's an ideal start," said Woods. "To go two for two, it's pretty good."
World number five Els needed a birdie four at the long 18th to force a playoff and struck his second shot into the water.
"I had 240 yards to the hole which is very much in my range but a gust came up and caught the ball," he said after finishing joint third on 276.
"The shot was right where I wanted it but I could see a gust of wind got it in the air and it didn't have much of a chance in the end."
Els, playing his first tournament of the year, looked back ruefully on two successive bogeys he made earlier in the round.
"I missed from four feet at the 11th," he said. "That was a big miss.
"Then I missed another five-footer on 12. Those two putts really cost me the tournament." (Editing by Clare Fallon)
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