Els thwarts Woods charge to take Genuity title

Ernie Els, who began the final round with a commanding eight-stroke lead, withstood a charge from Tiger Woods to win the $4.7 million Genuity Championship by two shots from the world number one on Sunday.

Australian Peter Lonard finished third, six shots back, and 1999 Kemper Open champion Rich Beem took fourth place, eight shots behind Els at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa.

"I was still very concerned to win this golf tournament, a couple of good shots into the last, two-putt there and I am a happy man," Els said of his first victory on the U.S. PGA Tour in 24 events.

"It was a difficult day, it was. Obviously I let him play the way I did the first three rounds scoring-wise," said the 32-year-old South African after he recorded a closing level-par 72 for a total of 271, 17 under.

It turned into a tale of two nines for Woods, who fired a 66 for 273, and world No. 5 Els. What looked like an impossible margin to overcome withered after Woods opened his round with three consecutive birdies.

Els began with a birdie but bogeys at the second and sixth suddenly made him appear vulnerable. Woods's 12-foot birdie putt on the ninth then cut the lead to three strokes.

"I got off to a pretty good start on the first hole, but gave it straight back on the second," Els said. "I just felt I was on my back foot from then on. I was kind of catching up a little bit.

"I saw Tiger birdie the first three holes. After that, I knew I was in for a pretty long, tough day."

Woods, on the other hand, did everything he wanted to do on the front nine.

"I just wanted to cut it in half by nine holes," said Woods, who went out in 32. "If you are at any time within a four-shot lead with nine holes to go, you have got a chance. I was able to do that and a little bit more."

The back nine proved a struggle for both players. Woods birdied both par fives, the 10th and 12th, to chop the lead to a single stroke before Els went two shots clear with a birdie on the 12th.

PROUD ELS

Both players had chances down the stretch -- Els to add to his lead and Woods to cut into it -- but neither could sink putts when they needed to and Els remained two ahead until the end.

"I feel pretty proud of myself on the back nine. I didn't hit too many loose shots, maybe just my tee shot on 14 with a two-iron, where I just pulled it left there," Els said. "But other than that I felt pretty good overall."

Woods's last chance came and went when he missed a 15-footer for a birdie at the 18th that would have narrowed the lead to one.

"I really wanted to get within one," Woods said. "If I could just get it to one with him on the tee, it would have been a little bit more different. In my thought process, that's what I was trying to do."

Els wanted to start the round better, but the pressure from Woods making a move in the group ahead made what should have been an easy day a very long one.

"It's not a very comfortable feeling," Els said. "You are trying to stop it, you are trying to play your own game, trying to be aggressive, trying to make birdies.

"But I guess your subconscious is just a little bit more safe than you want it to be, so it was difficult to get myself totally committed to just play aggressive golf."

Els lost an eight-stroke lead to Woods at the 1998 Johnnie Walker Classic. While a different situation, as Woods had to climb over several players to eventually get into a playoff and win in Thailand, Els learned from that experience on Sunday.

"I stayed committed," the South African said. "I really stayed committed this time and really trusted my swing a little bit more this time around. I was very tentative on the greens today, but at least I stayed committed over the shots."

Els is off to play in the European Tour's Dubai Classic and will then return to the United States to compete at the Bay Hill Invitational and The Players Championship.

Woods will take a week off and then play at Bay Hill and The Players Championship.

But both players are getting ready for the U.S. Masters in Augusta in April.

"I think obviously my game is pretty good at the moment," Els said. "I just try and get tougher and tougher and by the time the Masters comes around I will be ready to play."