Melbourne, Feb 09: Adam Scott shot 34 on the front nine, making birdie at the 9th to draw level with the South African. Both players birdied the 10th, but Els then made three successive birdies from the 12th to go two shots clear of Scott. The Australian then edged to within one stroke when he made a 10-metre putt for birdie on the par-four 17th.
At the final hole, Els narrowly missed his 12-metre birdie putt at the last and tapped in for par, leaving Scott with a 6-metre for birdie to take the tournament into a playoff. The Australian left his effort just short of the hole to give Els his third successive win in the tournament.
"You feel a little bit helpless out there at times," said Els. "The golf course is playing tougher, you just can't play the shots, it was tough. I don't know how I brought it back, but I did, it was tough."

Bureau Report