Els, Singh Reach Match Play Final

Ernie Els holed a six-foot birdie putt to tie the match on the 36th hole and a 40-footer on the first playoff hole Saturday to beat Nick Price in the semifinals of the World Match Play Championship at Virginia Water, England.

It was Els’ 11th victory without a loss in the tournament and he will be seeking his fourth consecutive title today against Vijay Singh.

Singh, leading at one point by eight holes against Brad Faxon, defeated the American, 4 and 3, in the other semifinal.

The results set up a replay of last year’s final, won by Els, 3 and 2.

“I thought I had let this one slip away,” Els said. “But he [Price] opened the door for me at the 18th and I was lucky enough to make that putt.

“It was tense all day,” Els said of a match that each player led once by two holes. “When you think you’re going to lose and two holes later you win like this, it’s very satisfying.”

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A blistering first round and one more day of steady, mistake-free golf might be all Duffy Waldorf winds up needing in the Michelob Championship at Williamsburg, Va., to gain his second career PGA Tour victory.

Waldorf, the leader since he tamed the River Course at Kingsmill Country Club with an eight-under-par 63 Thursday, made three birdies and one bogey for the second day to boost his lead by one to a three-stroke advantage with a 201 total.

Grant Waite, Fred Funk, Kirk Triplett and David Duval were all at 204 after the most difficult day yet on the 6,797-yard layout. Waite’s 68 was tied for the day’s best as only 22 players managed to beat par.

John Cook also shot 68 to move into a tie for sixth with defending champion Scott Hoch, who had a 69. They are four strokes back.

Waldorf, trying to match Hoch’s feat of a wire-to-wire victory here last year, made a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 6 and 35-footers on Nos. 7 and 18.

“I putted great, as well as I did the first day,” said Waldorf, who needed 25 putts. “I made a lot of good par-saving putts. The conditions were a little harder. The greens got firm and the wind was tricky.”

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Dave Eichelberger shot a four-under-par 68 to take a one-stroke lead over DeWitt Weaver after the second round of The Transamerica senior tournament at Napa.

Eichelberger, who closed with a 62 last week to finish a stroke behind Hale Irwin in the Vantage Championship, had an 11-under 135 total on the Silverado course. He eagled the par-five 13th hole to take the lead.

Weaver shot a 67, while Kermit Zarley (68), Graham Marsh (68), Jimmy Powell (69) and John Jacobs (70) were two back at 137. First-round leader Larry Nelson followed his opening 64 with a 74 to fall three back at 138.