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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida: Globetrotting golfer Ernie Els
rallied from three shots adrift Sunday to win the $5.5-million Honda
Classic and end his US victory drought.
Els fired a three-under-par 67 for a six-under
total of 274, one shot in front of England’s Luke Donald.
Els was at seven-under before a bogey at 17, but
Donald, American Mark Calcavecchia and Australian Matt Jones
couldn’t catch Els over the final holes.
The 38-year-old South African posted his first
win on US soil since 2004, when he won the Sony Open and the
Memorial. His World Golf Championships American Express Championship
victory that year counted as a US tour win, but came in Ireland.
Donald, Calcavecchia and Jones started the day
sharing the lead at six-under, but none broke par on Sunday.
Donald carded a one-over 71 while Calcavecchia
and Jones each settled for a three-over 73.
Australian Nathan Green finished third after a
67 for four-under 276. Calcavecchia and Jones tied for fourth with
Australian Robert Allenby (70) on 277.
Els’ victory followed two top-10 finishes in
non-US events to start the season, at the European Tour’s
inaugural Indian Masters and at the Dubai Desert Classic—where
Tiger Woods seized the victory at the final hole and Els settled for
third.
-- AFP
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