Fred Funk's nightmare came true.
Ernie Els, the U.S. Open champion from South Africa, made up a five-stroke deficit in six holes Sunday to beat Funk by three strokes and capture the inaugural $1.9 million Sarazen World Open Championship and its $350,000 first prize."I hope to keep my distance from Ernie. He can overpower this course," Funk said after his 66 on Saturday gave him a two-shot lead over Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and four-shot margin over Els entering Sunday's final round.
Funk, unfortunately for him, was right.
Els shot a 7-under-par 65, including a 30 on the back nine Sunday for a 273 total, 15-under-par. Funk shot a 72 for 276 to earn $200,000.
"I just wanted to get close to Fred," said Els. "The way it worked out was unbelievable. To shoot 30 on he back nine in a major tournament is something."
Els, playing in the next-to-last threesome one group ahead of Funk, took the lead for good by a stroke with a 5-foot putt for eagle on the par 5, 508-yard 14th hole after trailing by five shots following a bogey on No. 8.
Els then knocked in a 20-foot putt from the fringe of the green on No. 15 and dropped in a 6-footer for another bird on 16 to continue his amazing run of 7-under in nine holes over the 6,955-yard, par 72 The Legends at Chateau Elan course.
Second-round leader Tom Sieckmann shot a 73 and finished in a third place tie with Mark Calcavecchia, who had a 70. Both were at 280 and each earned $106,400 in this 74-player event, limited to national open champions from 48 countries over the last two years.
Eduardo Romero of Argentina shot a 68 for 281 and earned $72,200 for his fifth-place finish.
Funk, 38, who earned more than $281,000 this year on the PGA Tour - his sixth - led Els by five shots after the South African had a bogey at the eighth hole.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder with the classic golf swing, then birdied Nos. 9 and 10, parred 11 and 12, birdied No. 13 before his eagle on the next hole for the lead. He followed with the birds on Nos. 15 and 16.