Els rides his luck to win sixth event of the year

Ernie Els rode his luck before cruising to a sixth win of the year in the Omega European Masters.

Els carded a final-round 65 for a 17 under total of 267 at Crans-sur-Sierre to claim the €264,000 first prize and increase his lead at the top of the Order of Merit to more than €570,000.

The world number two finished six shots ahead of New Zealand’s Michael Campbell with overnight leader Eduardo Romero – seeking to become the oldest ever winner on tour at 49 – a shot behind in third.

Defending champion Robert Karlsson, Italy’s Emanuele Canonica and Scot Andrew Coltart were the first players to earn Ryder Cup qualifying points in joint fourth on nine under.

Els’ fourth win on the European Tour this season was not achieved without two major slices of good fortune however, and the South African was grateful to one spectator in particular.

A wayward drive on the 12th hole was heading into trouble when it struck the unlucky man on the head and bounced back into the fairway.

A huge bump was quickly visibly on the man’s forehead and Els winced visibly when he saw the damage he had caused, calling out to his victim that he would see him afterwards for a drink in the clubhouse.

By then Els was three shots clear of the field after wiping out his two-shot overnight deficit with a stunning opening salvo of four straight birdies.

His first stroke of good luck then came at the fifth when his second shot clipped the trees in front of him and ended up in the woods and resting next to a bench.

He was entitled to a free drop from there and then claimed further relief because advertising boards were between him and the green, eventually ending up with a clear shot to the hole.

His pitch ran some 25 feet past the hole but holed for the most unlikely of pars and a demoralising blow for playing partners Karlsson and Romero.