Els Wins Dubai Desert Classic

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) _ From the Blue Monster to the sands of the Middle East, Ernie Els is unbeatable right now. <br><br>The world's third-ranked golfer won a big tournament for the second

Monday, March 11th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) _ From the Blue Monster to the sands of the Middle East, Ernie Els is unbeatable right now.

The world's third-ranked golfer won a big tournament for the second week in a row on Sunday, shooting a 3-under-par 69 in the final round to wrap up a four-stroke victory at 272 in the $1.42 million Dubai Desert Classic.

The South African star used remarkable consistency to beat Niclas Fasth of Sweden and win the $250,000 first prize. All four rounds for Els were below 70 as he added the Dubai to last week's victory in the Genuity Class on the Doral Blue Monster course in Miami.

In his last seven starts, Els has won three times on three continents. He started with a victory in the Heineken Classic in Melbourne, Australia, last month.

Els also became the first two-time Dubai winner. He first won in 1994.

Fasth, the 2000 British Open runner-up, put pressure on Els early, tying for the lead with an eagle-3 on the third hole while Els bogeyed two of his first four.

But Els took the lead for good when Fasth took a triple-bogey 7 on the eighth hole, and wrapped it up when the Swede bogeyed the par-4 16th after hitting near the trees. Els closed with a par-5 on the 18th.

``It is wonderful to win this tournament again after my win in 1994,'' said Els, who held par on the par-5 18th. ``Niclas made a good run at me today and kept me on my toes and well done to him.''

Rookie Swede Carl Pettersson finished third at 11-under 277 after his final round 69. Pettersson had the tournament's best round, a 65, on Saturday.

Defending champion Thomas Bjorn finished with at 4-under 284 after Sunday's 73.