Els wins Match Play for record sixth time

Ernie Els beat Lee Westwood 2&1 in a gripping final at Wentworth on Sunday to win a record sixth World Match Play Championship and claim the biggest first Prize in golf.

The South African world number two celebrated his 35th birthday by pocketing a cheque for 1.0 million pounds ($1.8 million) after clinching his third successive victory in the tournament.

"It's been a great run and it's a brilliant feeling," Els told reporters. "I am very grateful for what's happened here, it has been wonderful."

Westwood had beaten Els twice in the World Match Play but he was suffering from the effects of a virus and was unable to reproduce the form which had brought him victories over British Open champion Todd Hamilton, U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

"I'm feeling awful and to be honest I have been feeling awful all day," Westwood said. "The main area where it affected me today was putting, bending over and trying to remain still over the ball.

"I think if I had been on form I would have had a really good chance but there were just too many three-putts."

The two players were locked together at the halfway point of the final but Els moved two ahead with an eagle at the 22nd hole and played solid golf to keep Westwood, ranked 37 places below him, at bay.

The British Ryder Cup player did pull a hole back with a delightful iron shot to birdie the 33rd but Els immediately restored his two-hole cushion.

Westwood, former European number one and Match Play champion in 2000, made a courageous birdie on the 35th hole but Els sank a snaking 20-foot putt to match his opponent and claim the 52nd title of his professional career.

Els, who also won the WGC-American Express Championship in Ireland this month, said he had not been at his best, possibly because he was tired after having for the first time to play three matches to get to the final.

"Yesterday I was really on my game and swinging well," he said. "Today I was a little error-ridden and I made a lot of mistakes. The amount of golf and miles walked starts to take its toll."

The South African, who owns a house on the Wentworth estate, also clinched his second successive European order of merit crown. He has now won 22 of his 26 matches in the tournament.

South African Gary Player and Spain's Seve Ballesteros won the Match Play title five times.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page