Els - World Golfer of the Year in 2003?

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2003 Omega European Masters | Wrap | 08 Sep 2003

Ernie Els, the class player of the field, today showed just why he is number two to Tiger Woods in the World rankings, with a six shot win at the Omega European Masters in Crans Sur Sierre.

Els trailed Eduardo Romero into the final round by one but with four consecutive birdies to start his day, it became apparent very early on that the only real battle on day four would be for second place. Michael Campbell would come out on top in that tussle picking up eight shots on Eduardo Romero in round four edging the Argentine into third.

Els extends his lead on the Volvo Order of Merit to some 600,000 euros over Darren Clarke, both players having played fourteen events. It was Els’ fourth European Tour win of the season to go with his Heineken Classic, Johnnie Walker Classic and the Barclays Scottish Open wins and you can throw in second placings at the Dubai Desert Classic and Caltex Singapore Masters, fourth at the Volvo PGA, fifth at the US Open and the USPGA and sixth at the US Masters. Two early season wins on the USPGA Tour also suggest that if there was an award for the world golfer of the year, then Els would win hands down.

Jarrod Moseley tied for eighth, three late bogeys costing him dearly, with Marcus Fraser the only other Australasian besides Campbell, finishing 39th.

The European Tour now heads to Paris for the Trophee Lancome.