Ernie Els had double cause for celebration today with victory in his World Match Play Championship semi-final coinciding with confirmation that he will finish as Europe's number one this season.
The big South African, chasing a record-equalling fifth Match Play title and a Stg£1million first prize into the bargain, won an astonishing eight holes in a row on his way to a 5&4 defeat of Fiji's Vijay Singh.
That run surpassed a 38-year record in the event set by his countryman Gary Player during his comeback win over Tony Lema in a semi-final.
Holder Els will meet Denmark's Thomas Bjorn in the final after he beat American Ben Curtis by two holes. It earned Bjorn some consolation for this year's British Open, won by Curtis, which he could have taken but for a prolonged visit to a bunker from which he took three attempts to escape.
European Ryder Cup player Bjorn was never behind today but had to fight all the way against Curtis who battled back from four down at one stage to stand one adrift with one to play.
A nervy Bjorn finally closed out the match, though, at the long 18th with a perfectly struck approach to reach the green in two while Curtis miscued slightly and, ironically, found sand where he fluffed his bunker shot before conceding.
World number two Els learned earlier today that he could not be overhauled as Europe's leading money winner with over two million pounds after his nearest rival Darren Clarke decided against playing in next week's Madrid Open, the season's penultimate event.
Els had looked in trouble early on in the 36-hole match against Singh who led four-up at one stage but his fortunes turned dramatically from the 16th as he won the last three holes with birdies and followed up after lunch by winning the first five of his afternoon round. That left him four-up. The Fijian finally found some rhythm but even when he eagled the long 12th, Els matched it with a magnificent eight iron to four feet and a bogey from Singh at the 14th completed his misery.
"I found something in my swing on the 18th hole and after that I started to hit it much more solidly and crisply," he told a news conference.
"I was swinging too flat before. I needed to find something against Vijay because earlier on he was totally overwhelming me."
There was one disappointing note for Els's afternoon, though, as his beloved Springboks lost their rugby union World Cup match against England in Australia.
"That's probably cost me about £200 in bets with the press and players," said Els.