For the fourth time in golf history, South African Erie Els is a major champion. Carding a final round of 68, 2-under par, which featured the "Big Easy" playing the final nine holes at 4-under, Els caught Australia's Adam Scott to win at Royal Lytham and St. Anne's.
Els' four-day total of 7-under par came on the heels of a meltdown by Scott, who controlled the whole tournament until he made a bogey on each of the final four holes. With things falling apart, Scott had a chance to force a three-hole playoff but his tournament-tying putt -- which was setup by a bad tee shot that landed into a fairway bunker -- just slid off to the left.
Overall, Els finish was the only player in the top five to finish the final round at 3-over par or better. Scott (-6) finish in second place, three strokes better than third-place Tiger Woods (-3) and Brandt Snedeker (-3). Luke Donald (-2) and Graeme McDowell (-2) rounded out the top five. (Full leader board here.)
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