Els overpowers Bjorn

ERNIE ELS was handed the second biggest cheque in golf at Wentworth yesterday after a record-equalling fifth World Match Play title that will also be remembered for something runner- up Thomas Bjorn did.

The Dane earned himself a £37,000 Toyota Land Cruiser for a hole-in-one at the 179-yard 14th, 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 he was five down with five to play at the time but 10 minutes later, Els completed a four and three victory with a curling 25-foot par putt.

Thanks to new sponsors HSBC, who quadrupled the first prize, the 34-year-old South African became £1million richer, while Bjorn earned a career-best £400,000 reward in addition to his unexpected prize.

The other holes-in-one were by Isao Aoki at the second in 1979 and Brian Barnes at the 10th two years later.

By lifting a trophy now named in memory of event founder Mark McCormack, who died in May, Els joined compatriot Gary Player and Spain's Seve Ballesteros as a five-time winner.

"To join that illustrious group is quite nice," said Els.

"It's tough playing such a big match against a good friend but I'm not complaining at the moment."

The only title worth more is the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa with its two million dollar prize. And Els is the current holder of that as well.

Bjorn lost four of the first eight holes, got back to only one down when Els messed up the 12th, 14th and 15th, but then allowed the pendulum to swing back.

He was bunkered at the 16th and bogeyed, then could not match the world number twos chip-and-putt birdie on the 571-yard 17th.

After birdie fours from both men at the 18th and 22nd Els returned to four-up on the next when Bjorn chipped into a bunker. And that turned to five after a shocking drive deep into the trees on the 452-yard 27th.

Els did not even hit a second shot on that hole before he was conceded it, then won the next with a par as his opponent missed another green.

He did summon the energy to eagle the 30th, holing from 20 feet, and then came the hole-in-one, but Els reminded everybody who was boss.

"The right guy won," said Bjorn.

He will not begrudge Els his record either. Their families are close friends, their daughters are in the same class at a school near Wentworth.

And when Bjorn suffered his Sandwich heartache, Els was one of the first on the telephone to him, telling him he had proved himself capable of winning a major one day. "It meant a lot," said the 32-year-old.

Els was disappointed to have gone through the year without adding to his major collection, but six other victories have left him content with 2003.

This weekend also saw Els land the European Order of Merit title once Darren Clarke decided not to play this coming week's Madrid Open. That spares him the need to go to the Volvo Masters to hit the one shot which would have sealed it.