Match Play winner will pocket £1m

ERNIE ELS will be one of 12 players to compete for the most lucrative winner’s cheque in either European or US golf, when he defends his World Match Play title at Wentworth this year.

Els yesterday participated in the announcement that HSBC would replace Cisco as new tournament sponsors in a new 10-year deal, with the bank contributing to a first prize of £1 million.

No competition on the European or US tours has such high prize money, although the annual Sun City event, where the winner receives £1.35 million, still ranks as the most lucrative tournament in the world.