Els victory margin a new Asian Tour record

WORLD number three Ernie Els fired a flawless seven-under-par 65 to cruise to a 13-stroke victory at the storm-affected BMW Asian Open yesterday.

The South African led from the opening day of the €1.15 million event and completed 72 holes in a tournament-record 26-under-par 262 at Shanghai’s Tomson Golf Club.

His margin of victory was a new Asian Tour record and the second largest in an event sanctioned by the European Tour behind the 15-shot win posted by Tiger Woods at the 2000 US Open.