Henrik Stenson is the new Dubai Desert Classic champion after keeping his cool on the 18th hole to sink the winning putt and edge out Ernie Els by one stroke.

The Swede won the Commercialbank Qatar Masters last year, and he kept his fine form in the Middle East going by carding a four-under-par 68 to finish 19 under in Dubai.

The top of the leaderboard was ever-changing throughout the final day but Stenson made the breakthrough on the 14th when he added his fourth birdie of the day to go one shot clear.

The 30-year-old then set himself up for a birdie putt on the 18th which, if he missed, would have meant a play-off with Els.

However, Stenson remained calm to sink the putt from eight feet and win the £203,470 prize money.

Three-time Classic winner Els did, however, win his personal battle with defending champion Tiger Woods.

The 37-year-old finished above the world number one in second place to make amends for his agonising play-off defeat at the Emirates Golf Club last year.

Woods, meanwhile, finished third with a disappointing start to the back nine proving to be his undoing.

The 12-time major winner was tied at the top after the turn but shot successive bogeys on the 10th and 11th to slip away from the leaders.

Three successive birdies from the 13th brought him back into contention and though he added another on the 18th it was too little too late as he finished with a three-under-par 69, 17-under overall.

Niclas Fasth finished alongside Woods after he carded a four-under 68.

The Swede shot birdies on the first and second but dropped a shot on the par-three fourth and though he enjoyed a faultless run coming home, adding three birdies, it was not enough to deny Stenson.

Ross Fisher, whose lead in the tournament was only ended after three rounds, dropped to fourth after carding a one-under-par 71.

It looked to be going well for the 26-year-old when he made birdies on the third and fourth but he struggled to recover from a double bogey on the eighth, making three more birdies and two bogeys coming home.

Colin Montgomerie finished 12 under after carding a final round of three-under-par 69.

The Scot made slow progress on the outward nine, dropping a shot on the eighth and making par on the rest.

But he fared better coming home as he shot five birdies and just one more bogey.

Paul Casey and Darren Clarke finished nine under after they both carded a disappointing one-over-par 73. Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood were a shot further back.

Stenson now wants to secure a first victory on American soil.

He said: "That is the main goal, to try and improve my positions and try and challenge for one of the big ones.

"It is always nice to beat Tiger. It is probably the first tournament I have won that he has been in.

"I have played with him a few times and I enjoy playing with him. He is a great player, so of course that gives me extra satisfaction.

"Nevertheless, to play four rounds with Ernie and beat him by a shot coming down the stretch is pretty much the same satisfaction.

"So it is good to have a win under my belt, especially when he is playing in it."

The victory was all the more sweet for Stenson as it came in front of his 'home' fans.

He has lived in Dubai for the last three years and was cheered on by family and friends.

"Dubai is very special now," he added. "It is unbelievable to win your own tournament. I got so close in Sweden two years ago when I lost in a play-off at the Scandanavian Masters.

"Obviously, being based down here, this is my second home tournament, so to be able to win in front of family, friends and supporters it is just unbelievable."

Els once again had to settle for a second-placed finish after carding his worst round of the tournament.

Last year, he was denied a successful defence of his 2005 Classic title by Woods, who defeated the South African in a play-off.

But despite missing out on a fourth title at the Emirates Golf Club, the 37-year-old was gracious in defeat and instead paid tribute to Stenson.

"Henrik was great," he said. "It was great playing with him for four days. One shot separated us for four days but I had a good time.

"I played well. I knew after the start I just wanted to give myself a chance coming down the stretch. I really got out of sorts on the greens and had a couple of bad swings.

"I just got a bit off the pace and I am still kind of experimental with my stroke. Some of the strokes I made out there were not quite me."

Collated final round scores and totals

(Gbr & Irl unless stated, Par 72)

269 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 68 64 69 68

270 Ernie Els (Rsa) 66 65 68 71

271 Niclas Fasth (Swe) 69 69 65 68, Tiger Woods (USA) 68 67 67 69

272 Ross Fisher 65 65 71 71

274 Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 65 69

275 Simon Dyson 67 69 69 70, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 68 68 68 71, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 66 68 67 74

276 Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 70 71 69 66, Colin Montgomerie 73 66 68 69, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 67 68 71 70, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 70 67 68 71, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 69 66 71

277 Johan Edfors (Swe) 72 68 69 68, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 69 69 71 68, Andrew Coltart 69 71 67 70

278 Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 67 70 72 69, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 71 67 68 72

279 David Park 70 70 70 69, Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 70 66 71 72, Phillip Price 67 71 69 72, Paul Casey 70 68 68 73, Darren Clarke 68 70 68 73

280 Lee Westwood 68 69 75 68, Paul Broadhurst 73 66 71 70, Paul McGinley 69 69 71 71, David Griffiths 71 67 69 73, Andrew Marshall 69 70 68 73, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 69 69 68 74

281 Oliver Wilson 73 67 71 70, Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 71 69 73, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 70 67 70 74

282 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 68 71 75 68, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 72 69 70 71, Damied McGrane 72 69 70 71, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 75 66 70 71, David Lynn 70 69 72 71, Richard Green (Aus) 72 67 71 72, Nick Dougherty 72 68 69 73, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 69 70 70 73, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 70 69 67 76, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 69 67 69 77

283 Stephen Gallacher 71 69 68 75, Graeme McDowell 65 69 73 76, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 66 71 70 76, Mark Foster 71 68 68 76

284 Gregory Havret (Fra) 71 70 73 70, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 69 72 69 74, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 70 70 70 74, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 74 66 69 75

285 Alastair Forsyth 70 70 70 75, Rory McIlroy (x) 69 69 71 76

286 Phillip Archer 69 71 75 71, Notah Begay III (USA) 71 69 73 73, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 73 68 71 74, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 71 69 69 77, Garry Houston 71 67 71 77

287 Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 68 70 74 75, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 71 69 71 76, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 68 72 78

288 Stephen Dodd 72 68 73 75

289 Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 71 70 73 75

290 Greg Norman (Aus) 70 71 71 78

291 Bradley Dredge 69 72 79 71

300 Lee Slattery 70 71 76 83