Ernie Els felt relief more than exhilaration after beating his house guest, South African countryman Charl Schwartzel, to win the $8.5 million CA Championship by four strokes Sunday. “This means so much. I didn't think it was ever going to happen again,” Els said after producing a bogey-free, six-under-par 66 final round to end a two-year victory drought. Els and Schwartzel turned the World Golf Championships event into a South African showdown in a demanding breeze at Doral's Blue Monster. They started the final round tied and although Els never trailed, he took a long time to put away his much younger countryman, the final duo being level with eight holes remaining. But the 14th hole proved pivotal as Els sank a 25-foot par-saving putt to retain a one-shot lead before pulling away down the stretch for a victory that was not quite as comfortable as the final margin suggests. Els finished at 18-under 270 with Schwartzel runner-up on 14-under after a final-round 70. Irishman Padraig Harrington, German Martin Kaymer and American Matt Kuchar tied for third, three shots further back. Els collected $1.4 million for his second WGC victory, his 17th on the PGA Tour, but he was not in a mood to make any bold forecasts of future glory. “I said too much last time I won,” continued Els, who has blown a few tournaments in the past couple of years. “I want to enjoy this one. This took so much work to win. The older you get, the tougher it becomes to win. I'm 40 years old and it feels like I had so many chances in my 20s and didn't take them. “I was just different today. I can't explain it (but) I felt I wasn't going to mess up badly. I wish I felt like this all the time. I'll just have a bit more confidence now, I'm sure.” Els felt “surreal” playing with 25-year-old Schwartzel, who was a house guest at his Florida estate last week and will be again this week. “I felt awkward because this young kid, he's still like a 15-year-old in my eyes. It was a little different, but I think both of us were very professional today.” Els now has his sight firmly set on next month's Masters. He has won three majors, but never at Augusta, where he has come close to claiming a green jacket more often than he cares to remember. World Cup of Golf finds new home in China The World Cup of Golf is moving to a new home in southern China and will return in 2011 as a biennial event to accommodate the sport's inclusion in the Olympic Games. The 28-team competition will shift from the Mission Hills Shenzhen complex near Hong Kong to the Mission Hills Resort on Hainan, China's island province in the South China Sea, the Asian Tour said in a news release Monday. Total prize money will rise from $5,500,000 to $7,500,000, making it one of the sport's richest events. Each member of the winning two-man team will take home $1,200,000. Golf will return to the Olympics in 2016. The new Mission Hills Resort on Hainan is China's largest golf development, boasting 22 courses.
