In Dubai, the South African made an 18-foot eagle putt on the final green to beat Miguel Angel Jimenez and Stephen Dodd by one.

Yesterday he came from six strokes behind with 15 holes to play to beat Sweden’s Henrik Stenson by one, two-putting the par-five 18th for the last of eight birdies.

It gave him the lowest round of the tournament – a seven-under-par 65 for a 12-under total of 276. And this a day after he thought it “almost impossible” to go low on a Doha Golf Club course made all the more difficult by a stiff wind.

“This is a great win as well,” said Els after achieving the target he set himself when he teed off yesterday morning in joint 10th spot.

“Normally when you aim at a low score you don’t do it, but here I did and with two wins under my belt now I can’t wait to get to America.”

Els plays this week’s Bay Hill Invitational, next week’s Players’ Championship and then has a week off before the big one.

Having been pipped by Phil Mickelson’s last-hole birdie last April, the Masters is the title the former Open and US Open champion craves more than any other.

“I really feel good,” he added. “But you can’t get cocky in this game. You have just got to shoot the numbers.”

With Mickelson and Tiger Woods both having won twice already this year, as well and Vijay Singh once, golf appears to have a ‘Big Four’ heading into the first major of the season.

“Maybe we have separated ourselves a little bit and our record speaks for itself, but you can’t forget Retief Goosen and you have to watch out for other guys,” Els commented.

Els, now back at the top of the European Order of Merit he has won for the last two seasons, had his sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout shaking his head in amazement at his latest success.

Els was furious with the Belgian on Thursday, when he slumped to 81st place with an opening 73.

The world number three said that before he teed off he was given “12 minutes of the most ridiculous stuff I have ever thought of”, but while there still appears to be a little tension between the two of them, Vanstiphout was lost in admiration.

“The only thing I know now is that I know nothing,” he said. “That was just a fantastic win – and what a boon for him going to the States.

“This one surprised even me. He has become mentally so strong and knows that he can beat anybody at any time.”

Stenson was ahead yesterday until he bogeyed the 13th and double-bogeyed the next – just as Els made his charge.

He did then birdie the 15th and 16th and a 35-foot attempt for another on the short 17th agonisingly lipped out.

It left him, like Australian Richard Green, needing an eagle on the last for a play-off. Green, 52nd in the world and chasing a Masters debut, took a bogey six and Els was home and dry when Stenson’s chip missed.

He could celebrate and so could the Qatar Golf Association, who had paid a reported £200,000 to get him. As defending champion they will hope he can be tempted back.