Global Golf Post - March 15, 2010

Men’s Pro
GlobalGolfPost

www.globalgolfpost.com;MAR.;15,;2010;9

Els Rode Route 66 For Win At Doral

MIAMI;| The Big Easy made
things look effortless, as
Ernie Els won the WGC-CA
Championship at the TPC
Blue Monster at Doral, a four-
shot victory over fellow South
African Charl Schwartzel.

quickly broken by Els with
three birdies in the first four
holes and a three-shot lead.

Els, 40, shot a final-round,
6-under 66 to finish the
second World Golf Champi-
onships event of the year at
18-under-par 270. Schwartzel,
25, shot a 2-under 70 on Sun-
day and posted 14-under 274.

“I’m;40;and
I’ve;had;a
tough;run.”
–;Ernie;Els

It was the 17th PGA Tour victory for Els, a three-time major champion. Els’ last win on Tour was the 2008 Honda Classic, which was his last victory worldwide.

Schwartzel came back with three straight birdies beginning at the sixth and by then the pair had separated themselves from the field.

“I’m 40 and I’ve had a tough
run,” Els said. “I really wanted
to play well today. I really had
to trust the changes I’ve made
over the last week. Charl
came at me all day. I had to
come up with the goods.”
Els saved a critical par at
the difficult par- 4 14th, get-
ting his third shot from a thick
lie onto the green and then
made a 24-foot putt that just
dripped into the cup, main-
taining his one-shot lead.

Els and Schwartzel started
the final round tied for the
lead at 12 under. The tie was
At the par- 3 15th, Els hit
an 8-iron into the back bun-
ker and Schwartzel’s 8-iron
found the front greenside
bunker. Out of a buried lie,
Schwartzel could only man-
age bogey, while Els got up
and down to hold a two-shot
lead with three holes to play.