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Ernie Els wins SAA Open and climbs back to world number 5

Ernie Els won the South African Airways Open at Humewood GC, Port Elizabeth by three strokes from compatriot and overnight leader Trevor Immelman after a brilliant final round of seven under par 65 in blustery conditions.

This first victory of the year enables Els to climb three places to World Number 5 in the Final Official World Golf Ranking of 2006, the same position he held at the end of 2005.

Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee survived a double bogey finish to win the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia. The win lifts Jaidee to second in the final UBS Order of Merit on the Asian Tour and he finishes 2006 as the 75th ranked player in the world, a rise of 28 places.

These two events were the final two counting events of the year, so the Official World Golf Ranking of week 50 is also the final ranking as at 31st December 2006.

December 18, 2006