Ernie Els just misses out once again

It didn't appear Ernie Els had a chance to get in the hunt for the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday at Whistling Straits.

But a three-putt on the 18th green proved quite costly as Els missed forcing his way into a PGA Championship playoff by just one stroke. When Justin Leonard also bogeyed the final hole a few minutes later, he fell into a three-hole playoff with eventual champion Vijay Singh and Chris DiMarco, all at 8-under par.

Els shot a 1-over 73 on the sunny, windy day, registering two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine and two birdies and three bogeys on the back. He finished the tournament at 7-under 281 and tied for fourth with Chris Riley.

It was the fourth straight near miss for Els in the majors this year, and his third consecutive blown opportunity. He played in the last group with eventual winner Retief Goosen in the U.S. Open's final round, but Els shot an 80 and tied for ninth.

In the British Open, the 34-year-old South African native missed an 8-foot putt on the 72nd hole at Royal Troon in Scotland, a putt that would have given him the title.

This time, he needed three putts from 80 feet after landing on the right side of the unforgiving, undulating 18th green on designer Pete Dye's course. But Els didn't know immediately how painful it would be, until Leonard ran into his own troubles by hitting his second shot into a bunker below the green, setting up a bogey and the playoff.

Els declined comment to reporters as he left the course with his wife, Liezl.

The disappointing day left Els winless in the majors since the 2002 British Open. He also won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997.

He fired two eagles in the final round of the Masters earlier this year and shot a 67, which might have been enough for victory if Phil Mickelson had not birdied five of the final seven holes to win his first major championship.

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