Golf: Els fights off Tiger challenge

Tiger Woods nearly pulled off a historic comeback but Ernie Els was unflappable as he claimed the Genuity Championship title in Miami for his first PGA Tour victory in 19 months.

Els has a recent history of runner-up finishes to Woods, and almost saw the PGA Player of the Year make up an eight-shot deficit.

The South African laboured to an even-par 72 to end the tournament at 17-under 271, while Woods birdied his first three holes.

But the American cooled off, and his six-under 66, the lowest round of the day, was not enough as it left him at on 15-under 273.

No player has ever rallied from more than six shots after three rounds on a US PGA Tour event but Woods seemed a likely candidate to do it and Els seemed a likely victim.

Winless in seven PGA Tour starts dating to last season, Woods has erased four 54-hole deficits of at least four shots during a brief but legendary career on the circuit.

He also has had Els’ number, most recently rallying from eight shots down on the final day to edge him at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand last year.

Woods also defeated Els by a stroke at Disney World in 1999, beat him in a play-off at Kapalua in 2000 and banished him to runner-up finishes two years ago at the US Open and The Open.

But an eight-shot lead was big enough for Els, who had gone 20 events between titles.