Els Targets Third

Aiming to become the first player to win three straight World Match Play titles, Ernie Els faces high-powered opposition from the United States.

Lined up against the South African are three winners of this year’s majors and the entire Dunhill Cup winning team.

British Open titlist Tom Lehman, U.S. Open champion Steve Jones and PGA winner Mark Brooks are competing at Wentworth along with Dunhill Cup winners Mark O’Meara, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker.

Brad Bryant opens defense of the Disney Golf Classic today in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The tournament is the regular-season finale and could involve plenty of meaningful putts for an event this late in the year.

Players like Robert Gamez, Ken Green and 48-year-old rookie Allen Doyle are trying to finish in the top 125 on the money list to keep their tour cards for next year.

Twenty-three others, Tiger Woods included, have a chance to finish in the top 30, which would put them in the $3 million Tour Championship next week and secure berths in the Masters and the U.S. Open next year.