Hole-in-one helps Quiros to ward off Hansen

Alvaro Quiros claimed the biggest scalps of his career, Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood included, to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic yesterday – and a hole-in-one helped him do it.

The big-hitting Spaniard aced the 161-yard 11th with a “three-quarter wedge”, but still had it all to do when he trailed Dane Anders Hansen by a stroke entering the closing stretch.

Then came a 12-foot birdie putt at the 16th before two pars gave Quiros his fifth European Tour title after Hansen was unable to repair the damage of a bogey on the short 15th.

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“It was the perfect shot,” said the 28-year-old of his ace. “Once a year it happens.”

Quiros, runner-up to Thomas Bjorn in Qatar last week, overcame a triple bogey on the eighth – his ball was stuck up a tree there – and a right-arm strain to fire a four-under-par 68 and win by one at 11-under from Hansen and South African James Kingston.

But as he went to celebrate, he left the tournament’s biggest stars to reflect on where it all went wrong. Woods, without a victory for almost 15 months, was only two shots back with seven to play, but by the time he dumped his pitch to the last into the lake and took a double-bogey seven he was down in 20th spot.

That is the second-worst finish the former world No 1 has ever had in a regular European Tour event since he turned professional – and his 75 is his worst score on the circuit outside the majors and world championships since he left the amateur ranks.

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Westwood stays as world No 1 because Martin Kaymer, needing a top-two finish, was down at 31st, but the Englishman’s own 15th place was a big disappointment after being only one behind with four holes remaining.

The Worksop golfer did the same as Quiros by hitting a ball into a tree on the 17th, double-bogeyed and then was in the water on the last like Woods, albeit in an attempt to find the green in two. That led to another six.

As for long-time leader Rory McIlroy, he followed his opening rounds of 65 and 68 with 75-74 to end up joint 10th. And then there was Sergio Garcia. Playing with Woods he had real hopes of his first win since November 2008 when he moved into a share of the lead with a 35-foot putt on the first.

But a triple-bogey seven on the ninth ruined his round.

Eight shots off Quiros was Yorkshire’s Simon Dyson after a conistent tournament of 72 72 70 71.

Sheffield’s Danny Willett (68 71 73 77) was a further four shots back, two better off than Hull’s Richard Finch (72 72 76 71).