Els completes easy win in Shanghai

World number three Ernie Els today wrapped up an emphatic victory at the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai.

The South African took an eight-shot lead into the delayed final day, after the threat of lightning at Tomson Golf Club forced the players off the course yesterday, and drew even further clear of the chasing pack.

He returned this morning to land a birdie putt at the seventh hole and went on to add three more birdies to close with a seven-under-par 65 and finish on 26 under for the tournament.

The 35-year-old, chasing a hat-trick of Volvo Order of Merit titles, gained his third win of the season and his 21st victory on the European Tour.

An amazing 13 shots back in second was England’s Simon Wakefield after a closing 73 while Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn was another shot back in third after a 72.

Tied for fourth on 10 under were New Zealand’s Eddie Lee and Jean-Francois Lucquin of France.

English pair Luke Donald and Stuart Little shared sixth on nine under, the latter firing a final-round 66.

Ireland's Peter Lawrie finished two under, tied in 31st place.

Els said: “I am obviously very, very happy and it was a very good week. The 62 (in the second round) was obviously the key to the victory, but in the same breath in the last two rounds I had to play really steady and not make any big mistakes and try and play aggressive where I could.

“It all worked out. I am very pleased, but it is just unfortunate that we could not finish yesterday.”

On holding such a big advantage entering his delayed final 12 holes, Els added: “You just prepare like you prepare every other day. Try not to think about the lead and think about where you want to go.

“You do not want to get too far ahead of yourself and you just want to stay in the moment and try and hit the shots when it counts.

“I have been around for quite a few years. I have had big leads and had a few big wins in my career, so I had a bit of experience to draw from.

“It looks good on paper but when you go to sleep on a lead you always have some negative thoughts. You need to get rid of those and try and stay positive.”

Wakefield, who came through the Qualifying Schools Final, looked to be feeling the pressure when bogeying the eighth and ninth holes but then held his game together with two birdies and just one more bogey on the back nine.

The 31-year-old said: “Obviously, it was not a great start bogeying eight and nine. Walking down 10, I was thinking to myself that I wasn’t enjoying it. Then I gave myself a kick up the backside and was thinking: ’You are playing golf with Ernie Els and you are not enjoying it. What’s going on?

“I then hit a good shot into 11, which hit the pin and came back. I had a bad club at 12 and then holed a good chip. After that, the mood changed and I was fired up and really looking forward to it.

“It has not sunk in yet and it won’t until I get home and I sit down and think about what I have done. It showed some toughness to come out today and compete and stay in front of Thomas.”