Els claims first WGC victory by one shot

Ernie Els put behind him the disappointment of three close calls at this year's majors with a one-shot victory in the WGC-American Express Championship at Mount Juliet on Sunday.

The smooth-swinging South African held off a strong challenge from playing partner Thomas Bjorn in gusting wind and driving rain, a three-under-par 69 earning him a maiden World Golf Championship title.

Els, who produced top-four finishes at the U.S. Masters, British Open and U.S. PGA Championship, finished on 18-under 270 to replace Tiger Woods as the world number two.

"I feel great," said the 34-year-old after winning the first prize of $1.2 million in the prestigious event, widely regarded as one rung down from the majors.

"It was a long, tough day and the pace of play didn't help either. Thomas kept me on my toes right to the last shot. He just wouldn't go away."

Denmark's Bjorn, producing his best golf of the year this week after several months of painful struggle, secured second place with a 68 and Britain's David Howell was a further four strokes back in third after a 71.

"Obviously I am disappointed to have come up a shot short, but I'm very proud of what I've done this week," said Bjorn, who took a five-week break from the game midway through the year.

"This is a massive improvement from where I was a few months ago.

"I was never in the frame of mind to think of giving up the game, but this is a sign that I can play with the big boys again."

Defending champion Woods, deposed as the game's leading player by Fiji's Vijay Singh three weeks ago, carded a third successive 70 to finish ninth at 10-under 278.

Els, two strokes clear of the field overnight, birdied two of the first three holes to stay in front as the expected mid-morning rain intensified.

The three-times major winner sank a 16-foot birdie putt at the first and then holed out from 14 feet at the par-three third to get to 17 under.

Bjorn, however, trimmed the South African's lead to just one, matching his birdies at the first and third and then picking up another shot at the par-five fifth.

The pair traded pars over the next four holes before Els regained his two-shot cushion with a birdie at the par-five 10th, where he reached the green in two.

Bjorn, however, got back to within a stroke of Els when he birdied the par-three 11th by holing a 23-foot putt.

Although the Dane faltered with a bogey at the par-three 14th after being bunkered off the tee, he bounced back with a birdie-three at the 15th, where he holed a 16-foot putt.

Els, who had not previously won in Ireland, effectively sealed the title with his fourth birdie of the day at the par-five 17th.

While he holed out there from six feet, Bjorn's birdie attempt from 10 feet lipped out and Els had a two-shot advantage playing the last.

The big South African, who collected his only bogey of the day at the last after finding a greenside bunker with his approach, is confident he has now put behind him the bitter disappointment of failing to win any of this year's majors.

"I needed to get that out of my system and draw a line under it," he said. "I want to go forward in my career and get to my goals. I can't keep looking back.

"I think I had more pressure on me today than anyone else in the field," added Els, after completing his first victory since the PGA Tour's Memorial tournament in early June.

Els ran Phil Mickelson close at the U.S. Masters in April before finishing second. In July, he was edged out by American Todd Hamilton in a playoff for the British Open at Royal Troon.

At Whistling Straits in August, he three-putted from around 80 feet at the final hole to cost himself the chance of joining a playoff for the title, a closing 73 tying him for fourth.

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