Els in control

Ernie Els held a commanding four-hole lead over Thomas Bjorn after nine of their 36 holes in the HSBC World Match Play final at Wentworth today.

Seeking the £1m (€1.4m) first prize – the second biggest in golf – and a record-equalling fifth title, the South African won the third and seventh with birdies and took the fifth as well when Bjorn three-putted from only eight feet and the eighth when the Dane hit a six-iron into sand.

Els turned in a three under 32 to Bjorn’s one over 36.