Els wins record sixth matchplay

Ernie Els won a record-breaking sixth World Match Play championship at Wentworth today, beating Lee Westwood two and one in the 36-hole final.

Ernie Els (pictured) won a record-breaking sixth World Match Play championship at Wentworth today, beating Lee Westwood two and one in the 36-hole final.

It earned the South African £1m (€1.4m) on his 35th birthday and was also his third successive victory in the event.

Els trailed by two after six holes of the morning round, but soon got back to all square and after falling one down twice more he moved two ahead himself with an eagle – his third of the match – on the long 22nd.

Westwood almost holed-in-one in winning the next, but bogeyed the 28th and after winning the 33rd he three-putted the next.

At the long 35th Westwood was on in two and two-putted, but Els made his 20-footer for victory.

The Ryder Cup star’s consolation was a cheque for £400,000 (€578,400).

He had beaten Els in their two previous clashes at the event, but could not make it three out of three.