Ernie Els and Angel Cabrera to meet in final - HSBC World Match Play Championship 2007

Record six-times champion Ernie Els said he had to battle to overcome a cold putter during his 3 and 2 win over Swede Henrik Stenson in the 36-hole World Match Play semi-finals on Saturday.

The Wentworth resident took 18 putts on the front nine of the morning round before suddenly rediscovering his touch on the greens by single-putting six times on the inward half.

"I had to make some kind of a change," the 37-year-old South African told reporters after setting up a final with Argentina's Angel Cabrera, who defeated American Hunter Mahan 2 and 1. "It was awful this morning on the greens, very frustrating. I felt I was hanging too far on my right side on address and I decided to lean on my left side and try to punch the ball."

The world number five was swift to serve notice of his intentions at the start of the afternoon round, drilling a four-iron to 12 feet and ramming in his putt for a birdie three at the first.

He later single-putted eight holes in a row to the 15th to dash Stenson's chances of adding the Wentworth crown to the WGC-Accenture Match Play title he lifted in Arizona in February.

"I'm a little drained at the moment," said Els. "I had to really dig deep the last couple of holes to makes those putts."

Els said persistence was one of the keys to his victory.

"This game tests you so much," he said. "I cannot imagine another sport that tests you mentally like this game.

"You always want things to go your way and most of the time it doesn't. You have to find a way of countering those feelings and I guess with persistence I got through it today."

Els is without a victory since the South African Open in Port Elizabeth last December.

"I want to win a tournament," he said. "I haven't won for a while but I'm playing at 'home' and I'd love to win again."

The 38-year-old Cabrera is equally keen to snatch the first prize of one million pounds ($2.04 million), the richest in golf.

"I am very happy to be in the final and if I can keep my form I'll try to take the trophy home," said the U.S. Open champion, who was an approximate 12 under par in his match with Mahan.

"I have a really good relationship with Ernie. We have played together as partners in the Presidents Cup and I have played many times with him.

"He is a great gentleman, a great player and a good friend."