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Els Wins Record Sixth Match-Play Title Ernie Els won the World Match Play title for a record sixth time on his 35th birthday, beating Lee Westwood 2 and 1 yesterday to capture golf's biggest payday -- $1.8 million. Els completed his victory with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole. This was the third straight time he won the event, matching his three titles from 1994-96. It was his first victory over Westwood in three matches in the championship. ``It's a great feeling,'' the South African said. ``The golf might not have been the greatest, but match play is like that. I just concentrated on trying to hit greens and fairways.'' Westwood, the 2000 champion who won $720,000 as runner-up, looked set to take the match. The Englishman was on the green at the par-5 571-yard 17th in two with Els short and in heavy rough. Els chipped on 20 feet short while Westwood got down in two putts for his birdie. He then watched as Els, reading his putt perfectly, curled it slightly left to right into the hole. ``I wasn't surprised,'' Westwood said. ``I know Ernie's a great putter. He's a great champion.'' Els' sixth title broke the record he had shared with Gary Player, who won five times between 1965 and 1973, and Seve Ballesteros, whose successes came from 1981 to 1991. The players were even after 18 holes. Els won the 21st and 22nd, Westwood twice got back to one down but Els won the 34th. In the morning round, Westwood started badly, driving into trees at the first hole and giving Els the lead. Then the defending champion hit into the trees to lose the third. Both eagled the long fourth, then Els bogeyed the 191-yard fifth and the sixth when he found two bunkers. He lost both holes but responded with fine mid-iron approaches to 5 feet at the seventh and ninth holes, making both putts to tie the match. But his fourth bogey of the morning at the 184-yard 10th, where he again found trees off the tee, put Els behind again. Still, he would not let Westwood get away -- he holed from off the green for an eagle at the 509-yard 12th. Westwood moved back in front by winning the 16th with a 12-foot birdie, and Els responded by winning the 17th with a par after Westwood drove out of bounds. In Saturday's semifinals, Els defeated Padraig Harrington 5 and 4 and Westwood eliminated Miguel Angel Jimenez by one hole. Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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