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Undoubtedly, the biggest name to have won the “Major of the Middle East” is none other than Tiger Woods, and he did it twice.
Here we relive that magical moment 20 years ago when, at the time, World Number One Tiger Woods beat the defending champion Ernie Els in a sudden-death play-off after a classic final-day duel over the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club.
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THROWBACK
The two giants of the game finished the regulation 72 holes tied on 19 under par, before Woods captured the Dallah Trophy for the first time in just his third attempt, winning at the first extra hole.
As the drama unfolded on that Sunday afternoon, any one of half a dozen players could have lifted the trophy, but in the end it was the greatest player of a generation who claimed the title and the €329,760 first prize. A far cry from the €1,400,000 first place on offer these days.
Dane Anders Hansen put up a brave fight, but the putts refused to drop as he closed with a 71 to finish on 17 under par, a score matched by Spain’s Miguel Ángel Jiménez after a 69. Double US Open champion Retief Goosen was also in the hunt throughout, but the leaders remained out of reach as he closed with a 71 to finish a shot further back.
Coming down the stretch, it was the Australian left-hander Richard Green who held the upper hand as he reeled off a run of four birdies in five holes to edge one ahead playing the last. However, his attempt to cut off the corner on the dog-leg 18th finished among the trees, resulting in a bogey and a closing 68 for an 18 under par total.
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Els and Woods, who had just birdied the 17th after a towering drive found the green, both needed to birdie the last to edge past Green. Els rose to the task, finding the putting surface in two shots and safely two-putting for a 67 to post the clubhouse target of 19 under par.
Woods, in the final group, was prowling as he managed to get up and down from the back fringe for a 69 to take the contest into a play-off.
With his phenomenal record in play-offs, having lost only once in his previous 13 attempts at the time, he was not about to suffer a second defeat. After hitting a perfect drive while Els turned his over slightly and found the sand among the trees, Woods hit his approach to the back of the green. The Big Easy rekindled memories of his 2002 victory when he had struck a four-iron second shot at the same hole. Attempting to repeat the feat with the same club, it came up just short, finding the water guarding the front of the green. From there, Els made bogey, leaving Woods with three to win, which he duly took.
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It was the American’s second victory in successive weeks, following his play-off win at the Buick Invitational on the PGA Tour in his first start of the year the week before.
“It’s a good start,” said Woods. “I couldn’t ask for anything more than that. Two play-offs too. Very stressful, but I was somehow able to come out on top. I don’t know how, but I was very fortunate today.
“Today was a day that I’m very proud of and I hung in there just like I did last week. I stayed around, made some key putts and saves, and hit some crucial shots that allowed me to get into a play-off both times.
“It’s a pretty good feeling when you’re able to do that and turn things around like that.”
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