Par 70 Prize Money $2.6 million

Els wins his second US Open after a four man tussle over the last nine holes

Bethesda, Maryland, 15th June - Ernie Els survived a four man tussle over the back nine to win his second US Open title in four years and $465,000.

Els, 27 years old from South Africa, parred the last five holes for a final round of 69 and a total for the tournament of 4-under par on 276. This was just one shot ahead of Colin Montgomerie who also scored a 69 to finish runner-up on 277 winning a cheque for $275,000.

Montgomerie also finished runner-up at Oakmont in 1994 when Els won his first US Open after a three-way tie play-off with Loren Roberts. Els is now the 17th player to win more than one US Open Championships and only the second overseas player since Alex Smith in 1910. He is also the first to win two US Opens before the age of 30 since Jack Nicklaus won his second title in 1967 at Baltusrol.

Tom Lehman, the Open Champion, has led the last three US Opens after three rounds failed to win again when he scored 73 a 3-over par total for the final round to give him third place on a four-round total of 278.

Jeff Maggert was fourth with a final round of 74 and a total of 1-over on 281.

Bob Tway, who only got into the tournament when Constantino Rocca withdrew on Tuesday because of a muscle injury, tied for fifth on 282 with Olin Browne, Jim Furyk, Tommy Tolles and Jay Haas. The top 15 finishers get automatic entry into next year's US Open at the Olympic Club, in San Francisco.

Tiger Woods, the Masters Champion, shot a final round of 72 to tie for 19th place on 286, 6-over par. It ended his streak of winning a USGA title at six years. He won three consecutive US Junior Amateurs from 1991-93 and three consecutive US Amateur titles from 1994-96.

Speaking about his dramatic win Els said "I was just trying to stay in touch. Three years ago it was like war out there and I knew it was going to be that way again with guys like Tom Lehman, Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert. It must have been a hell of a show for television. All four of us had a chance to win with two holes to go."

Montgomerie dropped a shot at the 17th to let Els go ahead on his own. He broke down in tears on the 18th when he failed to force a play-off as he watched his putt for a birdie miss the hole. "I was just aiming dead at it, Montgomerie said. about his tee shot to the par 3, 18th hole. "I'm not here to finish second, I've done that before. Unfortunately I just came off it."

Montgomerie was third at Pebble Beach in 1992, lost the play-off at Oakmont and was 10th last year.