KA’UPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii – Ernie Els won the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship on Saturday for his seventh PGA Tour Champions victory, finishing with a 6-under 66, beating Bernard Langer, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Alex Cejka by two strokes.
The 67-year-old Langer missed his chance to win for the 19th consecutive time on the 50-plus tour. The German star won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup championship last year for a record 47th senior title.
Els finished the event at Hualalai Golf Course with a score of 18-under 198. Playing alongside Els and Cejka in the final group, Langer parred the final four holes with a 66. Jimenez closed the tournament with a 64 and Cejka with a 68. Langer and Jimenez each won the event by three times.
“I’ve been trying to win this trophy for five years now,” Els said. The first time I came close and finally managed to cross the line. But what a battle it was. I can’t imagine a more beautiful place to play golf and spend what is essentially a week-long vacation with a golf tournament. “A wonderful week.”
Els and Langer broke into a six-way tie with a matching birdie on the par-5 14th, and Els passed Langer with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th.
Els saved par on the par-4 16th with a 10-footer, then birdied it from 25 feet, trying an inch short on the par-3 17th. On the par-4 18th, after a long birdie attempt by Langer, Els holed the ball from a height of 3 meters, gaining an advantage of two shots.
Last season, Els won three times. The 55-year-old South African is a four-time heavyweight champion, winning the US Open and The Open twice each.
“I’m doing it under pressure, a very tight race all day, all week actually,” Els said. “I had to make some clutch putts. Even if you don’t believe in yourself that much, days like this when you hit those shots like you used to give you hope again.
Defending champions Steven Alker and Jerry Kelly each shot 65 to finish tied for fifth at 15-under.
Steve Stricker finished 19th at 10-under after a 69 in his first official PGA Tour Champions tournament since September.
