LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England – Rarely does someone ranked 71st in putting win a major championship. But Ernie Els collected major No. 4 and claret jug No. 2 by falling in the aforementioned category.
The newly minted British Open champion hit 35 of 56 fairways, 57 of 72 greens and took 122 putts at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Els was tied for 43rd in fairways, first in greens hit in regulation but tied for 71st in the usually critical putting category.
At 298.1 yards a drive, Els ranked 13th.