bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Spencer Robinson

Ernie Els yesterday added his name to the illustrious list of Johnnie Walker Classic champions.

Making light of unseasonally torrential rain that forced a one-hour suspension in play and spirited challenges from New Zealander Michael Long and Australian Peter Lonard, the towering South African sounded an ominous early season warning.

Displaying no ill-effects from his switch of clubs to Taylor Made, a deal reputed to be worth in the region of US$25 million, the 27-year-old provided clear evidence that he is ready to add to his sole Major title (the 1994 US Open) this year.

Two shots off the pace in fourth place at the start of the last round, Els fired a closing three-under-par 69 over the 7,074-yard layout on Australia's Gold Coast.

Despite a bogey at the last, he ended one ahead of Long and Lonard and four clear of Australian Anthony Painter and former Classic champions Nick Faldo of England and American Fred Couples.

 While Els was a deserving winner, there was much sympathy for Long, who called a one-stroke penalty on himself at the 15th when his ball moved 'half a roll' as he addressed a 30-foot putt for birdie.

'No one else would have seen it,' said Long, who consulted with playing partner Els before calling for a rules official.

'In golf, you must be honest with yourself. If I hadn't called it and I'd gone on to win it would have been a hollow victory.

 'It happens and you've got to own up,' added Long, who replaced his ball and saw his long-range par attempt lip out.

 Els acknowledged that Long's setback was a key turning point.

 So, too, was the South African's 35-footer for birdie at the 16th, which gave him a three-stroke buffer.

 'It was just one of those things. Really unfortunate for Michael, especially at such a crucial stage of the tournament,' said Els, of the incident.

 He added: 'Gentlemen play this game. In tennis it's the referee or linesmen who make the calls, but in golf players take it on themselves.'  Not only did Els express admiration for Long's honesty, but also his golf game.

'Michael kept me on my toes all day,' said Els.

 'He's a great guy and a great talent who will be a future star in the game. He will win a tournament soon.'  Els, who follows Faldo (twice), Couples, Greg Norman, Ian Palmer and Ian Woosnam on to the Classic roll of honour, was sharing top spot when the heavens opened.

 With surface water on several greens and thunderstorms threatening, play was stopped for an hour. Within 10 minutes of the resumption, Els was in front, courtesy of birdies at the ninth and 10th.

 Although, by his own admission, he struggled on the home stretch, none of his rivals were able to take advantage.

 Els said the win was 'satisfying' although 'I think in future I'll have to play the back nines better'.

Long made up two shots on the last two holes, while Lonard holed a 40-footer for birdie at 18 to draw level with last month's New Zealand Open champion.

 Painter, equal with Long and Lonard at the start of the day, fell away quickly, but battled back well on the final nine, while Faldo and Couples both threatened early on.

 However, their hopes evaporated at the par-five 11th where both ran up double-bogeys.

 Couples pulled his drive into water, while Faldo misjudged two chips which rolled back to his feet.

'I just mis-hit the ball twice and that proved to be the end of it. I was out of contention from then on,' said Faldo, the US Masters champion.

Couples said: 'I put it in the water and it was hard to believe that both of us would take seven. I was in it until then.'  The distinction of finishing as the leading Asian player went to Hong Chia-yuh, the Taiwanese amateur who has been dubbed 'Asia's Tiger Woods'.

 Hong shot a commendable 69 to tie for 15th on 285, while China's Zhang Lianwei could only manage a 75, ending joint 34th on 290.



Els puts young pretenders in their place with Classic victory