Grandfather Still Knows Best for Els

On his 35th birthday, Ernie Els received a familiar present -- a World Match Play title. And he just might have his 96-year-old grandfather to thank.

Els won the tournament for a record sixth time, beating England’s Lee Westwood, 2 and 1, Sunday at Virginia Water, England, to earn $1.8 million in golf’s biggest payday. Els completed his victory with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole. This was the third consecutive time the South African had won the event, matching his three titles from 1994 to 1996. It was his first victory over Westwood, the 2000 champion, in three matches in the championship.

“It has been a great run, hasn’t it?” said Els, who got a phone call from her grandfather, Theodore Ernest Els, who suggested he keep his head still while putting.

“He was giving me a lot of grief about my putting,” the younger Els said. “I hope he’s happy now. At least I holed one good putt.”

Els’ sixth title broke the record he had shared with Gary Player, who won five times between 1965 and 1973, and Seve Ballesteros, who won between 1981 and 1991.

*

Brent Geiberger shot a final-round 66 and cruised to a two-shot victory in the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro (N.C.), winning for the first time in five years. Geiberger, who finished at 18-under 270, reached 17 of 18 greens in regulation, and took the lead for good with a five-under 31 on the front.

*

At San Antonio, Mark McNulty shot a six-under 65 to win the SBC Championship by eight strokes over Gary McCord, the largest margin of victory in a 54-hole Champions Tour event this season.

McNulty, a tour rookie from Zimbabwe, finished the tournament at 18-under 195 for his second victory this year.