DUBAI, March 6: Ernie Els won an unprecedented third Dubai Desert Classic in dramatic style on Sunday, holing an 18-foot eagle putt at the last for a one-shot victory.

South Africa's world number three fired a closing 68 to finish at 19-under 269 on a sweltering day at the Emirates Golf Club.

Jimenez, the European Tour's form player last year with five victories, had led by two with nine holes remaining but stumbled with a bogey-six at the 13th.

Although the pony-tailed Spaniard recovered with his fourth birdie of the day on 16, he wasted a chance to take force a playoff when he three-putted at the par-five 18th.

A closing 70 left him in a tie for second at 18 under with Britain's Stephen Dodd, who birdied three of the last nine holes on his way to a blemish-free 66.

Colin Montgomerie, boosted by a monster birdie putt from 40 feet at the par-three seventh, finished alone in fourth at 16 under after closing with a 69.

Jimenez made a scrappy start with a bogey at the third but rallied with a birdie-four at the third under a baking sun.

Leading final round scores: