Els’ gift: Another title
On his 35th birthday, Ernie Els received a familiar present — a World Match Play title. And he just might have his 96-year-old grandfather to thank.
Els won the tournament for a record sixth time, beating Lee Westwood 2 and 1 Sunday to capture golf’s biggest payday — $1.8 million.
The South African completed his victory with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole. This was the third straight time he won the event, matching his three titles from 1994-96. It was his first victory over Westwood in three matches in the championship.
“It’s a brilliant feeling,” he said. “It’s been a great run, hasn’t it?”
Els got some shrewd advice along the way. He took a phone call from his elderly grandfather — like the golfer, formally called Theodore Ernest Els — who suggested he keep his head still while putting.
“The older he gets the harder he gets,” Els said. “He was giving me a lot of grief about my putting. I hope he’s happy now. At least I holed one good putt.”
Westwood, the 2000 champion who won $720,000 as runner-up, looked set to take the match. The Englishman was on the green at the par-5 571-yard 17th in two with Els short and in heavy rough. Els chipped on 20 feet short while Westwood got down in two putts for his birdie. He then watched as Els, reading his putt perfectly, curled it slightly left to right into the hole.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Westwood said. “I know Ernie’s a great putter. He’s a great champion.”
Els’ sixth title broke the record he had shared with Gary Player, who won five times between 1965 and 1973, and Seve Ballesteros, whose successes came from 1981 to 1991.
“The golf might not have been the greatest, but match play is like that,” Els said. “I just concentrated on trying to hit greens and fairways.”
PGA Tour
Brent Geiberger shot a final-round 66 and cruised to a two-shot victory in the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro (N.C.), winning for the first time in five years.
Geiberger, who finished at 18-under 270, hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation, and took the lead for good with a 5-under 31 on the front.
Michael Allen birdied the final hole for a 67 to finish second, earning enough money to secure his playing privileges for next season. Chris Smith was another shot back at 67, with David Toms (69) and Tom Lehman (70) tied for fourth.
LPGA Tour
Annika Sorenstam charged from three shots back over the final five holes to overtake Grace Park and win her fourth Samsung World Championship.
Sorenstam, the winner of six of her 15 tour events this year, shot a closing 5-under 67 to finish 18 under in Palm Desert, Calif., three shots ahead of Park. The leader the first three days, Park finished with two bogeys for a 73.
Despite gusting winds, Sorenstam had a 4-under 32 on the back nine en route to her 54th career victory.
Champions Tour
Mark McNulty shot a 6-under 65 to win the SBC Championship by eight strokes over Gary McCord, the largest margin of victory in a 54-hole Champions Tour event this season.
McNulty, a tour rookie from Zimbabwe, finished the tournament at 18-under 195 for his second victory this year and a top prize of $225,000.
Bobby Wadkins (67) was third at 204, one stroke ahead of Tom Kite (68), Dave Stockton (68) and Bruce Fleisher (70). Larry Nelson (67), Dana Quigley (72) and Morris Hatalsky (72) finished at 206.