Ernie Els coasts to 8 shot Sun City victory

Local favourite Ernie Els compiled a flawless final round to claim his third Sun City Golf Challenge and $2million in emphatic style at the Gary Player Country Club.

Els carded a course record 63, his 28th consecutive under par round in the event, to finish at 21 under par and win by eight shots from Scotland's Colin Montgomerie (67).

He joins Nick Price of Zimbabwean and another South African, David Frost, as the only players to have won the lucrative invitational event three times, after wins in 1999 and 2000.

Three shots further back in third place was American Chris DiMarco (70), who himself was three strokes clear of compatriot Jim Furyk and another South African, Retief Goosen (71).

"Today was quite nice," Els said with a chuckle after receiving the trophy and the biggest winner's cheque in golf on Sunday

"That was probably the round of my life. I don't think I've ever gone into the final round of a tournament leading and shot a 63.

"I was quite worried about Monty because I knew he was playing really well. I was a little bit tense on the front nine because I knew I had to get off to a decent start.

"I didn't hit a good tee shot at the second hole but got away with a birdie there which set me on my way, but I was still trying to not make big mistakes," Els said.

Els, the world number three, went into the final round with a four shot cushion over the rest of the field and after a birdie at the ninth to turn in 33, his lead had already stretched to seven.

Although Montgomerie chipped in for eagle three at the 10th, Els responded with a solid birdie at the same hole and another at 12 turned the back nine into a victory stroll as the partisan local crowd cheered him all the way the 18th green.

Just for good measure, Els holed birdie putts at 14, 15, 17 and then chipped in for another birdie in front of the huge galleries at 18 to come home in just 30 strokes and complete the most decisive of his three wins in the tournament.

"I was really playing well coming in and I was making a lot of putts. It was just one of those things -- you get into that zone or whatever you call it. The hole looked pretty big to me today. It was great.

"The whole week has been wonderful -- we've been blessed. I'm going to enjoy this one, have a month off and hopefully play good next year," said Els.

Els won almost everything on the final day except for the shot of the day. That honour went to Goosen who holed a seven iron from 178 metres at the par four 18th.

Unfortunately for Goosen it was only for birdie after finding trouble off the tee.

267 Ernie Els (Rsa) 70 65 69 63

275 Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 74 69 65 67

278 Chris Dimarco (USA) 68 68 72 70

281 Jim Furyk (USA) 69 71 72 69, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 72 70 71

283 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 70 73 70 70

284 Nick Price (Zim) 71 70 73 70

285 Robert Allenby (Aus) 70 71 74 70, Bob Estes (USA) 73 69 72 71, Darren Clarke (Nire) 72 67 71 75

288 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 72 70 69 77

289 Michael Campell (Nzl) 71 71 69 78

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