23 Jul 2012

Ernie Els wins his second Open after Aussie Scott collapses

5:47 am on 23 July 2012

The South African superstar Ernie Els has won his second British Open golf championship, 10 years after his first, with the help of a calamitous finish by the Australian Adam Scott on a windy final day at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in Lancashire.

Scott teed off in the final round with a four-shot lead, and he had at least a three-shot lead for most of the round.

But while most challengers fell away, Els played a flawless homeward nine of four under par for a round of 68, and Scott bogeyed his last four holes to miss out on his first major title by one stroke.

The Americans Tiger Woods and Brand Snedeker tied for third another three shots back, and Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell shared fifth place.

The New Zealander Steven Alker capped off an outstanding tournament with a round of 71 for a one over par total and a share of 19th place.