Yorick
Prospect
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Posts: 22
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 Posted: 3/10/2003, 9:22 pm Post subject: Dutchman Derksen beats Els in Dubai Classic. |
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Robert-Jan Derksen, not even ranked among the top 3,000 players in golf, pulled off a stunning victory Sunday in the Dubai Desert Classic with a birdie on the 18th hole to defeat Ernie Els.
Derksen, a 29-year-old Dutchman who had never finished in the top 10 on the European tour, closed with a 7-under 65 and denied Els, who had a 69 Sunday, his fifth victory of the year.
And not only did he prevailed against the world's second-ranked player to post his first victory, but he did so after getting into the tournament as a late replacement for Tiger Woods.
"I didn't believe I had a chance of getting in and, the weekend between (the) Malaysia (Open) and Dubai, I think I was 27th reserve (for the Dubai Desert Classic)," said the Dutchman.
Had Woods not pulled out of the Dubai event, then Dersken would have been the first alternate.
"It's the biggest shock of my life -- unbelievable," Derksen said about winning Sunday.
He seized the lead with a 60-foot eagle putt on the 13th, and he held up under the pressure over the final holes. He laid up short of the water on the 18th, then pitched to 5 feet and made the birdie, walking off the green in tears.
"One guy comes out of the pack and beats you," Els said. "He played well, so it is one of those things."
The Big Easy had bogeyed the par-5 18th twice this week. Needing a birdie to force a playoff, Els made sure he cleared the water with a 4-iron that ran though the green. His chip was 25 feet short, and his birdie putt missed badly.
Derksen finished at 17-under 271 for his first victory, which came four months after his sixth trip to European tour qualifying school.
Yesss people the Dutch are going to rule the world 
http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/story?id=1520781
Last edited by Yorick on 3/10/2003, 10:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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