Els ends drought at Honda Classic

Four years and 47 PGA TOUR events later, Ernie Els has once again found the winners circle.

Els, who last won at the 2004 American Express Championship in Ireland, has since found himself on the receiving end of some cruel treatment by the golfing gods and more specifically, one Tiger Woods.

All of that frustration ended, at least for the time being, Sunday when he shot a 3-under 67 Sunday to win the Honda Classic on one of the more demanding PGA setups outside of a major championship, Palm Beach Garden’s PGA National.

Last month was particularly rough for Els. At the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play Championship he was convincingly ousted by Jonathan Byrd. In Dubai, he led going into the final round but watched his lead give way to another Tiger triumph; Woods’ has now won seven times in tournaments that Els has finished as the runner-up.

In South Africa this past December, he needed just a bogey on the last hole to defeat Woods and lost with a triple. Boo Weekley, who missed a three-foot putt to lose last year’s Honda Classic, even chipped in twice during the final round to down Els at Hilton Head’s Verizon Heritage.

“I really feel very grateful and happy,” said Els during his final round press conference at the Honda. “Obviously it’s been quite a ride, you know, especially over here. I’ve won tournaments around the world, scarce tournaments around the world here and there, but obviously to win over here, it’s been really my goal.”

Of course it was pointed out to Els after his victory that this victory lacked one important element: Woods’ name among those who didn’t win.

“Obviously, when he’s in the tournament, there’s bigger scope from the media, and obviously from the fans,” Els said. “So there’s a bit more hype and if he was in the field, who knows. He could have won by six or seven, or maybe he wouldn’t have had a good week, we will never know.”

Els was playing the Honda Classic for the first time since 1999. In his previous starts, Els had his best finish in 1997 when he tied for 23rd. In his only other made cut, in 1999 he tied for 46th.

Els last win on U.S. soil was the Memorial in June 2004.

Els is committed to play again this week at the PODS Championship which will be contested on the Innisbrook Resorts’ Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida.

On his Web site Els had this to say of this week’s upcoming event: “I’ve played in it only once, in 2003 when I finished second,” Els wrote. “Back then it had a late season slot in the schedule, but here we are in March and I think this is a great time of year to be in Florida. Obviously the way things have turned out, I’m glad I decided to change my schedule in 2008 to include the Florida Swing.”