SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda: Ernie Els reeled off three straight back-nine birdies Wednesday to record a one-shot victory in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Els, an alternate in the four-man tournament designed to feature the year's four major championship winners, carded a two-under 69 for a five-under total of 137. Els, standing in for Masters champion Phil Mickelson, had a 36-hole total of five-under 137, good enough for a one-stroke victory over American David Toms. Toms, a former PGA champion who replaced British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen in the two-day event, led by as many as three Wednesday but settled for a 71 for 138. US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland carded a 73 and PGA champion Martin Kaymer of Germany posted a 71. They finished eight shots adrift on 145. Els notched his second victory in the tournament, his other title coming at Poipu Bay in Hawaii in 1997. That was the year that Els added a second US Open title to the one he captured in 1994. The most recent of the South African's three major triumphs was in the British Open in 2002. Tadini leads in Egypt In Cairo, Italian Alessandro Tadini took an early lead in the opening round of the Egyptian Open presented by SODIC Wednesday thanks to a storming round of seven-under par 65 and a new course record at the JW Marriott, Mirage City Golf Club. Although the 36-year-old from Borgomanero dropped a shot on the par five second, eight birdies were enough to give him a two-shot early lead over Scotland's George Murray, Floris de Vries of Holland and Swiss pro Julien Clement on 67 (-5). Already a winner this year at the 2010 Credit Suisse Challenge in Switzerland, Tadini is in search of a place on next year's full European Tour. Also enjoying a good day on the 7,108-yard resort course were Murray, De Vries and Clement with only one bogey between them on a day when the benign conditions were a bonus for the early starters. Favorite and world No.9 Rory McIlroy found the going tough and appeared to be struggling until a storming finish of three straight birdies saw him end the day with a one under par 71 and share of 21st place six shots off the leader. For promising UAE national Ahmed Al-Musharrekh, a brilliant start turned into a disappointing round as he followed up an opening birdie three with five dropped shots over three holes.
