Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez won the Dubai Desert Classic for the first time Sunday defeating European No. 1 Lee Westwood on the third hole of a drama-packed playoff. The clincher came on the green of the par-four ninth when Westwood missed a six-foot putt for par and Jimenez held his nerve to sink a five-footer. It was the 16th European Tour win for the 46-year-old Jimenez and a record ninth title to have come after the age of 40. Going into the final day there had been a four-way tie for the lead on 11 under comprising Westwood, Jimenez, Asian No. 1 Thongchai Jaidee, and a second Spaniard in the shape of young gun Alvaro Quiros. Thongchai finished third at 10 under with Italy's Edoardo Molinari and Germany's Martin Kaymer a shot further adrift. Defending champion Rory McIlroy was never really in the hunt after bogeys at the seventh and ninth left him with too much work to do down the back nine as he came in at eight under, the same mark as the fading Quiros. Stricker stretches lead In California, Steve Stricker has control of the Northern Trust Open after finishing his third round Sunday with two more birdies for a 6-under 66 to build a six-shot lead. Stricker had a 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole when play was stopped by darkness Saturday. He returned to make the putt in chilly temperatures, then hit 7-iron to 4 feet on the par-3 16th hole for another birdie. His streak of 32 holes without a bogey at Riviera ended on the 18th when he missed the green to the left. Even so, he had a comfortable margin as he tries to win and move up to No. 2 in the world rankings. Stricker was at 15-under 198, six ahead of Andres Romero (70), Luke Donald (66) and J.B. Holmes (67). Romero, playing in the same group as Stricker, was 1-under through 14. Donald and Holmes were able to finish their rounds Saturday, Donald carding a five-under 66 and Holmes a 67. Stricker and Romero elected to mark their balls on the 15th green when play was called due to darkness. Fifteen golfers returned early Sunday to complete their round before the final 18 holes were to get underway. Donald and Holmes have the luxury of sleeping in, having completed their rounds, though they both know they will have to make up ground quickly to pressure Stricker. Saturday began with 41 players finishing their second round, though the start was delayed for 90 minutes because of rain. One of those who had to finish his second round was Dustin Johnson, who had a chip-in birdie at the 18th to claim the second round lead at 11-under par. However, after a birdie on the first, Johnson began to slip down the leaderboard with a double bogey on the third and another dropped shot at the next hole. He had a birdie on the 10th but it was sandwiched between two more bogeys to leave him three over for the round. Bhullar wins Asian title India's Gaganjeet Bhullar has come from six shots down to win the Asian Tour International golf tournament, collecting six birdies and an eagle for a final round 64. Bhullar's total of 11-under 277 gave him a one stroke victory over Korea's Hwang Inn-choon, who carded a 69 Sunday.
