South Africa's Ernie Els fired a final-round three-under par 68 yesterday at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles and got away with a bogey on the final hole to win the PGA Nissan Open by two strokes.
Els finished 14-under-par on 270 to win the $504,000 first prize at the $2.8 million event, but not before missing a five-foot par putt on the final green that opened the door for Tiger Woods and Ted Tryba.
"It was kind of crazy, you know," Els said. "That last four holes really played tough. But I'm really pleased. This is really sweet. I needed the 68."
The Americans reached the 18th tee moments after South African PGA Championship winner Els made his finishing bogey knowing they had to have a birdie to force a playoff.
Brisk winds had picked up minutes before, contributing to six bogeys in a row on the 18th as Tryba and Woods began the final hole. Only three of 74 prior players had birdied the hole on yesterday.
Tryba and Woods made the fairway, but Tryba landed in deep greenside rough to the left and Woods sent his approach too far
right, bounding into a concession tent. Woods chipped out 20 feet from the hole to end his chance of matching Els. When Tryba followed by sending his chip 10 feet short, Els's victory was sealed.
Woods and Tryba finished with bogeys to share second at 272 along with Davis Love, the only player among the final three groups to par the 18th. Woods and Love fired final-round 70s.
