Ernie Els won the Kaulig Companies Championship, his first senior major title, on Sunday, finishing with a score of 68 (two under par) and a one-stroke lead over YE Yang at windy Firestone.
Els was one stroke behind defending champion Steve Stricker at the start of the round but recovered to make par on the final two holes on Sunday after hitting into the water and making bogey on the par-5 16th hole.
“The last few holes were nerve-wracking,” Els said.
“I got to the 17th tee and saw YE make nine under par. Now I’m thinking, ‘Don’t screw it up any further.'”
Els became the first three-time winner of the PGA Tour Champions this season and won for the sixth time on the 50-and-over tour.
“It still needs a bit of settling… It was quite a day,” said Els.
The South African has won four regular major tournaments – the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002 and 2012.
“We don’t have much time. I mean, I’m 54, so I want to have a nice ride,” Els said.
“I want to play well and try to get some wins and then see where it takes me.”
Els finished the tournament at 10 under par, 270 strokes, after opening rounds of 68 and 64. The Hall of Famer won $525,000 ($777,000 Australian) and a spot in The Players Championship in March.
South Korean Yang made a bogey on the par 4 18th hole and achieved a score of 66.
“A little windy,” said Yang.
“Today just one shot, one shot, keep going.”
Jerry Kelly (69), the 2020 and 2022 champion, finished third at seven under par.
His American compatriot Stricker, who also won at Firestone in 2021, shot 73 and was in fourth place at six under par. He made a bogey on the par-4 13th hole, a triple-bogey on the par-4 14th hole and also made a bogey on the 18th hole. The 17-time Champions winner is winless this season.
KJ Choi (70) was also six under par, while Michael Wright (73) was the leading Australian at three under par, sharing seventh place. Cameron Percy (70) and Mark Hensby (71) were the only other compatriots to finish at two under par and one under par respectively.