Patience pays for masterly Els

Ernie Els concluded a stellar year by demolishing a quality field to win his third Nedbank Golf Challenge in four years here. Against a field including five of the world's top 10 players and 10 of the top 20, Els won by eight shots to pocket the $2m (£1.3m) cheque, the largest individual prize in golf.

The Open champion explained his success by saying: "I was a little tense on the front nine but I've had more patience and discipline this year and I've also made peace with the fact that Tiger Woods is out there. I don't feel I have to chase him any more, just play my own game."

Els led Colin Montgomerie by four shots going into the final day but, rather than playing conservatively, he shot a course record nine under par 63. That was four shots short of his record low in 1999 but, with the course lengthened and bunkers added for this tournament, his 21-under-par total astonished his rivals.

The 33-year-old South African has won $6.5m over 11 years of competing in this event, $5m of that since 1999. Montgomerie won $300 000 as runner-up to Els in finishing three shots clear of Chris DiMarco.

The Scot clawed his way into contention with a third-round 65 but a cold putter yesterday meant he could do no better than par every hole on the front nine. He then eagled the par-five 10th and came home in 31 shots for a fine 67. The only trouble was that Els came home in 30, trumping Montgomerie by chipping in for birdie on the final hole.

"Colin deserves credit because he never gave up," said Els. "When I won in 1999 he shot 20 under par and it was just the same. I could never afford to relax."

While Els and Montgomerie were battling each other, Padraig Harrington was fighting his own personal demons. A crooked drive at the third hole, followed by an ill-considered drop and three putts contributed to a quadruple bogey eight. Four other bogeys saw Harrington out in 44, a score which would have embarrassed a weekend hacker. To prove he is anything but that, he then came home in 33, an 11-shot improvement.