KA’UPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii — Ernie Els received 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 JimĂ©nez 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 received the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship final yr for his record-extending forty seventh senior title.
Els completed at 18-under 198 at Hualalai Golf Course. Enjoying alongside Els and Cejka within the remaining group, Langer parred the ultimate 4 holes in a 66. Jimenez closed with a 64, and Cejka shot 68. Langer and Jimenez have every received the occasion 3 times.
“I have been attempting to get my arms on that trophy for 5 years now,” Els stated.” Got here shut my very first time and eventually bought it by way of the road. However what a battle it was. I can not think about a extra lovely place to play golf in and have mainly per week’s vacation with a golf match. Great 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 attempt an inch brief on the par-3 seventeenth. On the par-4 18th, after Langer’s lengthy birdie attempt slid previous, Els holed a 10-footer for the two-shot margin.
Els received 3 times final season. The 55-year-old South African is a four-time main champion, successful 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 in case you do not imagine in your self as a lot, days like this if you make these putts such as you used to, it provides 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.
