Els wins Memorial by four shots
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-07 09:45

Ernie Els held off a star-studded group of challengers Sunday to win the Memorial Tournament by four strokes.

Els, who started the day with a two-shot advantage, briefly surrendered his lead after an early bogey, but that was his only blemish in benign conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

The South African roared back with seven birdies to post a 6-under-par 66 to finish at 18-under 270, while Fred Couples (68) was second on 274.

Els led by only two shots with one hole left.

Tiger Woods hits of a sand trap on the second hole during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, June 6, 2004. [Reuters ]

Tiger Woods, who began the round three back, was very much in the hunt after three front-nine birdies, but he could only par every hole on the back nine and finished third, six shots behind.

Els collected US$945,000 for his 14th PGA Tour victory, his second this year. He has finished no worse than seventh in his past six starts.

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