Birdie run gives Ernie Els Grand Slam title

ERNIE Els came from three strokes behind with five holes remaining to win the end-of-season PGA Grand Slam of Golf by one shot in Bermuda yesterday.

The smooth-swinging South African rattled up three consecutive birdies from the 14th on the way to a two-under-par 69 on the picturesque Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton.

That gave the 41-year old a 36-hole total of five-under 137, one better than first-round leader David Toms, of the United States, who closed with a 71.

US Open champion Graeme McDowell, of Northern Ireland, battled to a 73 to finish at three over, level with his Ryder Cup teammate, the US PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer, of Germany, who shot 71.

The elite Grand Slam event, billed as "the most exclusive tournament in golf", traditionally brings together the winners of the year's four majors.

Els and Toms were late replacements in the four-man field for US Masters champion Phil Mickelson and The Open winner Louis Oosthuizen, of South Africa.

American Mickelson opted not to play in the tournament and South African Oosthuizen pulled out because of an ankle injury.