KA’UPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii — Ernie Els gained the season-opening Mitsubishi Electrical Championship on Saturday for his seventh PGA Tour Champions victory, closing with a 6-under 66 to beat Bernhard Langer, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Alex Cejka by two strokes.
The 67-year-old Langer missed an opportunity to win for the nineteenth straight season on the 50-and-over tour. The German star gained the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship final 12 months for his record-extending forty seventh senior title.
Els completed at 18-under 198 at Hualalai Golf Course. Taking part in alongside Els and Cejka within the closing group, Langer parred the ultimate 4 holes in a 66. Jimenez closed with a 64, and Cejka shot 68. Langer and Jimenez have every gained the occasion 3 times.
“I have been making an attempt to get my palms on that trophy for 5 years now,” Els stated.” Got here shut my very first time and eventually obtained it by means of the road. However what a battle it was. I am unable to think about a extra stunning place to play golf in and have principally every week’s vacation with a golf event. Fantastic week.”
Els and Langer broke out of a six-way tie for the lead with matching birdies on the par-5 14th, and Els moved forward of Langer with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 fifteenth.
Els saved par on par-4 sixteenth with a 10-footer, then left a 25-foot birdie strive an inch brief on the par-3 seventeenth. On the par-4 18th, after Langer’s lengthy birdie strive slid previous, Els holed a 10-footer for the two-shot margin.
Els gained 3 times final season. The 55-year-old South African is a four-time main champion, profitable the U.S. Open and British Open twice every.
“Getting it finished beneath the gun, very tight race all day, all week actually,” Els stated. “I needed to make some clutch putts. Even for those who do not imagine in your self as a lot, days like this whenever you make these putts such as you used to, it offers you hope once more.”
Defending champion Steven Alker and Jerry Kelly every shot 65 to tie for fifth at 15 beneath.
Steve Stricker tied for nineteenth at 10 beneath after a 69 in his first official PGA Tour Champions occasion since September.
