SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Three straight birdies on the back nine Wednesday vaulted Ernie Els into first place Wednesday and he went on to capture the Grand Slam of Golf.
Els won the event for the second time, his other triumph having come 13 years ago.
The two-day tournament is designed to bring together the winners of the year's for major championships -- the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship. Only two of those winners, however, played this week at the Port Royal Golf Course.
Masters winner Phil Mickelson and British Open champ Luis Oosthuizen chose not to compete and were replaced by Els and David Toms.
Els shot a 2-under-par 69 Wednesday for a 5-under 137 total and a one-shot victory over Toms.
PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer and U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell both finished eight shots behind Els.
Toms had a one-shot lead after the first round Tuesday and he was three shots ahead as the players headed to the 14th tee on Wednesday.
Els then birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes and Toms suffered a bogey at the 15th, putting Els in front by a shot with two holes remaining. Both players parred the closing two holes.
Tiger Woods has captured the tournament seven times, but this was the third straight year he has not been a part of the event.
