Big Easy hitting major gear

ERNIE ELS completed a second successive victory yesterday and is unquestionably the hottest player in golf with The Masters now only 10 days away.

The 40-year-old South African survived a tense finish to beat Italian Edoardo Molinari and American Kevin Na by two after the storm-hit Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill spilled into a fifth day.

Els, among 21 players unable to complete his final round on Sunday, resumed two ahead with four to play, but that became one when Na birdied the long 16th.