Els Tops Elkington

Ernie Els earned the chance to win $1 million and set up Colin Montgomerie’s shot at vindication.

Els, who edged Montgomerie at the U.S. Open last month, won the international leg of the Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf in Kohler, Wis., beating Australian Steve Elkington 2-up.

Els, of South Africa, earned $200,000 and the right to face Montgomerie, of Scotland, who won the European championship, in the four-man world finals at Scottsdale, Ariz., on Jan. 3-4, 1998.

Japanese champion Hajime Meshiai will face Davis Love III, who won the U.S. regional, in the other world semifinal.

The pairing of Arnold Palmer and Laura Davies drew the biggest crowd, but Scott Simpson won the $565,000 Fred Couples Invitational in Kenmore, Wash.

The 41-year-old San Diego native shot his second consecutive 4-under-par 67 for a two-day total of 134 to win the charity event on the 6,543-yard Inglewood Golf Club course by one stroke over Tom Lehman.