3 October 2006

Ernie Els showed he is returning to form with a fifth-place finish at the World Golf Championship-American Express Championship at The Grove on Sunday, which saw him move above countryman Retief Goosen to number six in the world.

American Express Championship
It did not come as a surprise that the only person capable of stopping Tiger Woods at The Grove was Mother Nature herself.

The elements might have caused a cessation of play in the final round lasting, in total, two hours and 46 minutes, but it merely delayed the world number one's inevitable celebrations as he cruised to a comprehensive eight shot victory on 23-under-par 261 in the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship.

It was Woods' fifth victory in the tournament itself and an incredible twelfth individual success for the American in the last 22 official WGC events.

Ernie Els' sole fifth placing conclusively silenced any doubts as his form continues to improve. The former world number one fired a final round 67 to finish 10 strokes behind Woods with a 72-hole total of 13-under-par 271.

A solid showing from Trevor Immelman, who carded three consecutive 68s and a final round 70, saw the 26-year-old finish inside the top 10, and his $117 224 cheque translated to an impressive climb in both the European and PGA Tour rankings.

England's Paul Casey leads the European Tour rankings on €2 286 281, while Els leads the SA challenge in sixth with earnings of €1 555 792.

Despite a disappointing showing at the Grove, Retief Goosen is still in second place. The world number six is ranked tenth with earnings of €1 367 399, while two-time Sunshine Tour winner Charl Schwartzel moved to 16th (€1 080 709) after a tie for forty-first on the weekend.

European Challenge Tour
Mark Pilkington secured the richest first prize in the history of the European Challenge Tour with a fantastic victory at the 2006 Kazakhstan Open.

The Welshman, who led from day one, carded a final round of three-under-par 69 to win by two strokes from England's Shaun P Webster and pick up a record first prize of €48 000.

Jean Hugo was the top South African challenger at the Nurtau Golf Club. A two-time winner on the Sunshine Tour this season, he carded rounds of 72-67-73-70 to secure a share of twenty-fifth on six-under-par 282.

Martin Maritz, who was well in contention through the first three rounds, slumped to a share of fifty-fourth after carding a final round of 79.

With two events remaining to secure their European Tour cards for next season, Hugo, at thirty-eighth on the current money list, has some ground to make up, while Maritz is just two spots outside the top-20, which is the cut-off point.

Asian Tour
India's Gaurav Ghei blasted a six-under-par 66 and ended an 11-year wait when he won the US$500 000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Sunday.

Ghei enjoyed a blemish-free round with six birdies and finished one stroke ahead of compatriot Rahil Gangjee who ended his campaign with a 71 at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club. Ghei scored a four-day total of 10-under-par 278 and walked away with the top prize of US$100 000.

Keith Horne was the only South African to survive the midway cut, set at two-under-par 142. A 79 in the third round caused some damage, but the Sunshine Tour winner bounced back with a 71 in the final round to grab a share of thirty-eighth on eight-over-par 296.

European Tour Qualifying
Josh Cunliffe and Gerlou Roux were the only South Africans among the nine-man challenge that successfully completed the First Stage of European Tour Qualifying School. The duo will next compete at Second Stage at four venues in Spain, namely Emporda Golf Club, PGA Golf de Catalunya, Golf Costa Ballena and Sherry Golf Jerez from 1 to 4 November 2006.

US PGA Tour
DJ Trahan won his first PGA Tour event at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic. For Trahan, victory means that he avoids the gruelling Q-School and guarantees that he will play on Tour for the next two years. But seasoned pro Joe Durant made him work for it, taking the tournament into extra holes. In a tight struggle with Durant, Trahan made birdie on each of the three playoff holes to enter the winner's circle.

Champions Tour
Andy Bean defeated RW Eaks in a playoff to win the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. Bean, who had four other top-10 finishes this year, earned his first career Champions Tour title.

Official World Golf Rankings
Tiger Woods, the world number one, completed an eight-stroke victory at the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship at The Grove, Hertfordshire in England.

Ernie Els' fifth placing at the event saw the former world number one rise on place to the number six spot on the rankings, with Retief Goosen slipping to the spot vacated by Els.

SA Players in the World Top 200

	Ernie Els, known by golf fans around the world as 'The Big Easy'

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	Asian Tour  Official World Golf Rankings  Ernie Els  Sunshine Tour  US Champions Tour  PGA European Tour  US PGA Tour

Golf courses in South Africa Our climate is ideal for spending time out on the fairways, and when it comes to courses, golfers here are blessed for choice.