Els celebrating Memorial Tournament win

Ernie Els staved off a star-studded group of challengers to win the Memorial Tournament in the US by four strokes.

Els, who started the day with a two-shot advantage, briefly surrendered his lead after an early bogey, but that was his only blemish in benign conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

The South African roared back with seven birdies to card six-under-par 66 to finish at 18-under 270, while Fred Couples (68) was second on 274.

But it was closer than the final margin indicated as Els led by only two shots with one hole left.

Tiger Woods, who began the round three back, was very much in the hunt after three front-nine birdies, but he could only par every hole on the back nine and finished third, six shots behind.

For Els it was his 14th PGA Tour victory, his second this year. It is his third worldwide victory in 13 starts this year, and he has finished no worse than seventh in his past six starts.