Alyssa HertelDes Moines Register
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Fourth time is the charm.
It took four appearances at the Principal Charity Classic for Ernie Els to get his first win in Des Moines, with the South Africa native simultaneously earning his first PGA Tour Champions win this season.
“It’s very special,” Els said of the win. “I haven’t won for a while, and I’ve had quite a few chances. But it gets tougher when you don’t get it over the line.”
Els, a former World No. 1 and four-time major winner, finished at 21-under-par 195 and won by two strokes.
The 54-year-old birdied twice on the front nine Sunday and three times on the back nine. He picked up an eagle on lucky number 13, which gave Els the padding needed for the win, even with making par on the final three holes.
“I was lucky enough to make birdie on 11,” Els said. “I didn’t need a very good approach, made a good putt. And then 12, but 13 was big to make eagle late on the back nine, that was key. Got me into a three-shot lead, and (I) kept with it.”
The win at the Wakonda Club marked the first PGA Tour Champions win of the season for Els, who entered the Principal Charity Classic ranked 16th in the Schwab Cup Standings through eight events.
He claimed the winner’s purse of $300,000, which brings his total winnings the $785,017 this season. Els had finished in the top-10 three times this season, including two third-place ties in the Regions Tradition and Chubb Classic and a sixth-place tie at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
Els finished two shots ahead of Stephen Ames, the defending champion, and it was a close race throughout. Four players were tied for first after finishing the front nine: Ames, Rod Pampling, Els and Bernhard Langer.
Only Ames, Els and Langer remained in a tie for first after 12 holes, at 18-under. Then, the front group started to split apart.
Ames picked up two birdies to start the back nine, then made par on 12 and 13, and saved par on 14. Els made par on 10, then picked up back-to-back birdies and an eagle on the next three holes to take a two-shot lead. Langer also hit par to start the back nine, then made three birdies in a row before a bogey on 14.
Els’ eagle on 13 proved to be the winning shot in Sunday’s competition.
He played his best tournament of the year, leading after the first two rounds and hanging on through the final day in Des Moines.
“I had a good game plan,” Els said. “I stuck with it all three days. I’ve put the work in and you feel a bit more confident that every aspect of the game is there.
“Then you can just go out there and compete. It was a hell of a week. Everybody played well and just that one hole maybe got it for me. Number 13.”
Els – who thanked the Wakonda staff for the “true championship course” and the weather for cooperating – plans to return to Des Moines for more tournaments.
“We as players love playing here. As long as I can, I’ll come back, especially if I keep winning.”
Alyssa Hertel is thecollege sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
