Ernie Els confirms Dubai title defence

Ernie Els will defend his Dubai Desert Classic title in March, organisers have confirmed.

With world number one Tiger Woods already signed up for the tournament from March 6 to 9, it means a mouthwatering clash between two of the game's giants is in store.

Reigning British Open champion Els, who won last year's event by four strokes from Swede Niclas Fasth, said in a statement issued on Wednesday by the organising committee: "Last season was a great year for me both professionally and personally.

"The highlight in golf was the Open Championship, but winning in Dubai was extra special as it was the first time any player had won the event twice."

The South African, who recently became a father, first won in Dubai in 1994.

Woods, the Masters and U.S. Open champion, will be playing in the event for the second time in three years.

On his last trip to Dubai in 2000, he ended up losing on the 72nd hole when he hit his ball into water and had to settle for a share of second place with Padraig Harrington of Ireland, behind Dane Thomas Bjorn.

"The fact that we have succeeded in inviting both Tiger Woods and Ernie Els to the same Dubai Desert Classic speaks volumes of the strides made by Dubai on the world sporting stage," Mohammed al-Abbar, chairman of the organising committee, said in a statement.

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