Els holds off raft of star-studded challengers to win Memorial by four

ERNIE ELS staved off a star-studded group of challengers to win the Memorial Tournament by four strokes.

Els, who started the day with a two-shot advantage, briefly surrendered his lead after an early bogey, but that was his only blemish in benign conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

The South African roared back with seven birdies to card a six-under-par 66 to finish at 18-under 270, while Fred Couples (68) was second on 274.

But it was closer than the final margin indicated as Els led by only two shots with one hole left.

Tiger Woods, who began the round three back, was very much in the hunt after three front-nine birdies, but he could only par every hole on the back nine and finished third, six shots behind.

Els collected €767,000 for his 14th PGA Tour victory, his second this year. It is his third victory in 13 starts this year, and he has finished no worse than seventh in his past six starts.

If not for Phil Mickelson’s magnificent finish at the Masters, Els would be the proud owner of a green jacket and considered the hottest player in the game in 2004.

Meanwhile Jim Thorpe became the 12th different winner on the Champions Tour this season, posting a six-under-par 66 for a one-stroke victory over Fred Gibson at the Farmers Charity Classic.

Thorpe completed 54 holes at the Egypt Valley Country Club at 13-under 203 to record his eighth win on the tour.

Gibson, seeking his second win on the Champions Tour, also signed for a 66 and finished one shot ahead of Gil Morgan, Dave Stockton and Bob Gilder. Hale Irwin, winner of the Senior PGA Championship, tied for sixth with Mark McNulty at 206.

Karrie Webb captured the Kellogg-Keebler Classic for her 30th victory on the LPGA Tour, having shot a final round four-under-par 67 to win by four shots over Annika Sorenstam, Siew-Ai Lim and Jeong Jang.