| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
MIAMI: Ernie Els fended off a challenge from fellow South African Charl Schwartzel to win the CA Championship by four strokes on Sunday, serving notice a month before the Masters that he is back on form.
Els and Schwartzel were even with eight holes to play, but Els proved the steadier player down the stretch as he pulled away in a testing breeze at Doral's Blue Monster in the 8.5 million-dollar World Golf Championships event.
Els fired a bogey-free six-under par 66 to finish at 18-under 270, ending a two-year victory drought. He collected 1.4 million dollars for his second WGC victory, his 17th triumph on the PGA Tour.
"I felt my game was in good shape. I just wanted to come out and prove it to myself," Els said.
"I've got a take a lot of positives from this heading into the Masters next month."
Schwartzel shot 70 to take the 850,000-dollar runner-up prize on 14-under with Irishman Padraig Harrington, German Martin Kaymer and American Matt Kuchar another three shots behind in a tie for third.
"I had to really trust those changes I made last weekend and today was a great day for it," Els said. "The wind was blowing and I had to come up with the goods."
Els started the day with a one-shot lead and did exactly what he needed. At 40, Els is 15 years older than Schwartzel, who was a guest at Els' Florida house last week and will also spend this week there.
"It has probably been the biggest day I've had playing in America," said Schwartzel. "I've won on the European Tour but haven't done anything much in the United States. This is a good day for me."
It was a good day as well for Els, the veteran winning in what will be a great relief after a few confidence-sapping near-misses over the past couple of years.
Els stormed into the lead with one hole to play at the World Golf HSBC Champions tournament in China last November, only to chunk his second shot into the water at the final hole and hand Phil Mickelson victory.
But there were no such mistakes this time. - AFP/de
|
