The relatively unknown Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen pulled off a massive shock at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, beating world number two Ernie Els to top spot. The 29-year-old from Nijmegen has never previously had a top 10 finish on the European Tour and the £200,000 first prize more than doubled his career earnings so far. He did not even figure on a world ranking list that features 3,082 players and his biggest previous cheque was for only £10,384.
However, his name will now go down in golfing history after he denied South African Els an almost certain victory. Els, chasing his fifth win in seven starts this year, led by two with seven to play but with a double-bogey on the 12th and Derksen's eagle putt of over 60 feet on 13, the balance of play was most definitely in the Dutchman's favour.
Suddenly he led by two, but when Els recovered well to birdie the 13th and chipped in at the short 15th to draw level, everyone's money was on Els to wrap up his sixth victory of the season. But Derksen had other ideas and with a birdie on the 547-yard last, the pressure was on Els to also birdie the last and take the contest to a play-off.
Els had made a bogey six on the final hole in his second and third rounds of the competition but this time he managed to hole in par. However, that wasn't enough to earn him a play-off and Derksen, who never finished higher than 142nd on the Order of Merit, was champion.
His closing 65 was the low round of the day and the round of his life. "It's the biggest shock of my life - unbelievable," he admitted himself afterwards.
Joint third were Ian Woosnam and the two players who had shared the overnight lead with Els, Scot Alastair Forsyth and England's David Lynn.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
