KA’UPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii — Ernie Els won the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship on Saturday for his seventh PGA Tour Champions victory, closing with a 6-under 66 to beat Bernhard Langer, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Alex Cejka by two strokes. .
The 67-year-old Langer missed a chance to win a 19th consecutive season in the 50-plus Tour. The German star won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship last year for a record-extending 47th title.
Els finished at 18-under 198 at Hualalai Golf Course. Playing alongside Els and Cejka in the final group, Langer split the final four holes in a 66. Jimenez closed with a 64, and Cejka shot a 68. Langer and Jimenez won the event three times.
“I’ve been trying to get my hands on that trophy for five years,” Els said. “I closed my first time and finally reached the line. But what a battle it was. I can’t imagine a better place to play golf and we had a week-long vacation with a golf tournament.
Els and Langer broke into a six-way lead with identical birdies at the par-5 14th, and Els moved ahead of Langer with a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-4 15th.
Els saved par on the par-4 16th by 10 feet, then left a 25-foot birdie attempt an inch short on the par-3 17th. On the par-4 18th, after Langer’s long birdie attempt slipped, he -Els holed a 10-footer in two shots.
Els won three times last season. The 55-year-old South African is a four-time major champion, winning the US Open and British Open twice each.
“Doing it under the gun, it’s a very tough race all day, all week really,” Els said. “I had to make clutch putts. Even if you don’t believe in yourself that much, days like this when you make those putts like you used to, it gives you hope again.”
Defending champion Steven Alker and Jerry Kelly each shot 65 to tie for fifth at 15 under.
Steve Stricker is tied for 19th at 10 under after a 69 in his first official PGA Tour Champions event since September.
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