Els has won four times this season

Holland's Robert-Jan Derksen held off the challenge of defending champion Ernie Els to win the Dubai Desert Classic by one shot.

Derksen, 29, clinched his maiden European Tour win with a final round of 65 to Els' 69.

The South African world number two led with nine holes left at the Emirates Golf Club but dropped two shots at the par-four 12th to let the field back in.

Derksen holed out from 60 feet for eagle at the long 13th to climb to the top of the leaderboard and birdied the last to go to 17 under.

Els, in the last group, one hole behind, missed an eight-footer at 17 for a birdie and fluffed a chip from the fringe at the 18th en route to a par, one shot too many to force a play-off.

I played well all week but I couldn't expect this outcome - it's unbelievable Robert-Jan Derksen

"It's a big shock, the biggest of my life," said Derksen.

"I played well all week but I couldn't expect this outcome. It's unbelievable.

"This week it has all come together for me and I played fantastic today. Importantly, I didn't make any mistakes.

"I never once looked at the leaderboard today. Although I knew I was doing well, I didn't know how well I was doing."

FINAL LEADERBOARD -17 Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) -16 Ernie Els (Rsa) -14 Alastair Forsyth (Sco), David Lynn (Eng), Ian Woosnam (Wal) -13 Thomas Bjorn (Den), Mikko Ilonen (Fin), Kevin Na (Kor)

Els' co-overnight leaders David Lynn (71) and Alastair Forsyth (71) finished third on 14 under alongside former Masters champion Ian Woosnam (69).

On 13 under was Finn Mikko Ilonen, Dane Thomas Bjorn and South Korea's Kevin Na. Ulsterman Darren Clarke birdied the last six holes to finish on 277, six behind the winner.

Els reached the turn in 33 - including three birdies and a bogey - to move ahead of England's Lynn and playing partner Forsyth.

Derksen, meanwhile, was out in 32 and then birdied the long 10th.

But Els' problems in the rough to the right of the 12th green opened the door, and Derksen took his chance with a monster putt on the green ahead.

Els recovered with birdies at 13 and 15 to get back on level terms but three straight pars to finish were not good enough to haul back the flying Dutchman.

"I played good today in pretty tough conditions," said Els.

"One guy comes out of the pack and beats you. He played well, so it's just one of those things.

"I only made one mistake today, on the 12th, and made double there. But then I played solid coming in, and did what I wanted to do. All in all, I played good."

Open champion Els has won four tournaments in seven starts this season - finishing second twice - and has leapt to second in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods.