Ernie Els coasts to five shot victory

Ernie Els has taken out the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne by five shots. The dual US Open champion shot four sub-70 rounds to finish 17-under, well clear of Peter Fowler, David Howell and Peter O’Malley.

Like he had for the previous two days, Els went through his front nine in 35 before coming home in 34. His round today was identical to yesterday’s for the last ten holes, and included an eagle on the tenth to set up an unassailable lead.

He held his nerve to par the last eight holes and claim the $350,000 winners cheque.

“I thought that was going to be easier than it actually was,” Els said.

At one stage Greg Norman got to within two shots of the dual US Open champion. Els said he saw the shadow of the Shark looming large.

“There’s only one man that makes that sort of noise around here and that Greg,” Els said.

The Shark’s front nine of 32 included five birdies and a bogey with the highlight a long birdie putt from off the green on the par-3 8th. But two bogeys in his last four holes took the wind out of his sails.

“I knew it was going to be an uphill struggle for most of the day,“ Norman said. “All in all it was a good week, I just know I need a little bit more match practice.”

Norman finished equal sixth on ten under.

Howell had worked his way to 13-under, with a five-under round through 15. But a bogey on the 16th stalled the young Englishmen and he finished second at 12-under along with Fowler and O’Malley.

Fowler, a tour veteran, shot a 67 today which included birdies on two out of the last three holes.

“When I sunk that big, long birdie putt on the 16th, it sent a shiver down my spine,” Fowler said. “I finally got it together, it’s been five years of long, hard work.”

As well as his long putt on the 16th, Fowler also holed out from the sand on eight and drilled a monster putt on 12.

Els’ playing partner Peter O’Malley battled hard all day but three birdies on the back nine helped the New South Welshman recover from a tough start. He climbed his way from ninth at one stage back up into second.

A shot back on 11-under was defending champion Michael Campbell. The Kiwi finished with his third sub-70 round of the tournament and is probably regretting he was unable to do better than a 72 on Friday.

At ten under on equal sixth with Norman were Nick Faldo and Stephen Leaney.

Faldo too is probably regretting his Friday where he shot a 73.

Australian Craig Parry had also got to 11-under but dropped three shots in his last few holes to fall back to eight-under, equal ninth with Greg Owen who shot a 69 today.

Els’ countryman Trevor Immelman and Swede Fredrik Jacobsen shot the best rounds of the day with 66’s in the morning.

Robert Allenby had the dubious honour of the worst last day round, crashing with an 80 after three sub 70 rounds.

“I just didn’t play very well today-that’s about it,“ the Victorian said, “nothing seemed to go well, pretty simple.”

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