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Els ends US drought in Palm Beach

Ernie Els holds his trophy after winning the Honda Classic golf tournament in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

Globetrotting golfer Ernie Els rallied from three shots adrift on Sunday to win the US$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 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.

"I really feel very grateful and happy. Obviously it's been quite a ride, you know, especially over here," Els said. "I've won tournaments around the world, scarce tournaments around the world here and there, but obviously to win over here, it's been really my goal. So, it's a great feeling."

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.

The 38-year-old South African, who has more than 50 victories worldwide to his name, has said he plans to focus this year on adding to his three Major titles -- two US Opens and one British Open.

Calcavecchia, trying to win the event for a third time in a third decade, was tied with Els at six-under when misfortune befell him at 15.

He appeared to fire safely out of a bunker, but his ball rolled past and eventually stopped on a rock ledge above the water hazard and he finished with a double bogey that cost him a chance at the title.

"Thought I hit a great shot off the tee. The wind held it up a little bit. The bunker shot, I hit a little further than I wanted to," Calcavecchia said. "I thought it was a pretty good bunker shot and the thing didn't grab, downgrain, downwind and went right for the water. I don't know, too much sand in the bunkers or something, I had a buried lie every spot I could find."

Jones, a US Tour rookie, was at six-under but bogeyed 15 and took a double-bogey at 17.

"It was disappointing the way I finished on 17, but overall it's a good start to the year," Jones said. "Got off to a good start, did pretty much what I wanted to."

Back-to-back bogeys at 12 and 13 saw Donald drop back. He pulled a stroke back with a birdie at 16, but missed the green at 18 where his chip for birdie was short.

"It wasn't a particularly good third shot. It doesn't look like there's much green out there where that pin is," Donald said. "I just fanned it a little bit and really wasn't a very makeable chip. Hit it right on-line. I just came up a few rolls short. It was a good chip, but I probably should have got it to the hole and given myself a chance."

"But saying that, I don't really have regrets about that shot. I have more regrets about the bogeys on 12 and 13. It was one of those days where you knew you just kind of had to hang around, and it was never going to be an easy day. The wind was whipping harder today than any of the other days. So, it was a tough day," he said.

Els said the blustery conditions that greeted golfers on Sunday actually boosted his confidence that he could overtake the leaders.

"Chasing, you need tough conditions, because if the wind wasn't blowing like it was yesterday, the leader shoots 66 [and] you've got no chance," he said.
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