LONDON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- South African Ernie Els posted a 4 and 3 victory over Denmark's Thomas Bjorn on Sunday to win a record-tying fifth World Match Play Championship.
Els joined compatriot Gary Player and Spain's Seve Ballesteros as the only five-time winners of this event. It was also his seventh title of the season.
Els took home a first-prize check of $1,672,696. The only title worth more is the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa with its $2 million prize. Els is the current holder of that as well.
Bjorn did not walk away empty-handed, gaining a Toyota Land Cruiser for a hole-in-one at the 179-yard 14th hole, only the third ace in the event's 40-year history and the first in a final.
It was a dramatic way to keep their match alive. Bjorn was five down with five to play at the time.
