Els claims world number two spot

Ernie Els held off Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn to win the American Express world championship by one at a wet and windy Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny today.

The South African now goes back to world number two and knocks Tiger Woods down to third a month after his five-year reign at the top was ended by Vijay Singh.

Bjorn, two behind at the start of a final round brought forward four hours because of a bad weather forecast, narrowed the gap to one four times and looked to have a chance to draw level when he reached the green in two at the long 17th.

But he raced his 80-foot putt 10 feet past and missed, whereas Els pitched to six feet and made the birdie putt to take a two-stroke advantage to the final tee.

Bjorn had a 40-foot birdie chance on the difficult last, but when he missed Els, bunkered in two, could afford to bogey and he did. He finished with a 69 for an 18 under par total of 270 and earned €362,000.

England’s David Howell finished third, the cheque for €362,000 being the biggest of his career, and Darren Clarke shared fourth with Sergio Garcia. Woods, who came into the week with a back injury, was ninth.

Padraig Harrington finished tied for sixth at -11