Dunhill disaster for Els

Home favourite falls at the last to allow Englishman to take trophy

Last updated: 10th December 2007

John Bickerton Alfred Dunhill Championship

Bickerton: Shocked

It's fantastic (for me) but I do feel sorry for Ernie.

John Bickerton
Quotes of the week

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John Bickerton was gifted the Alfred Dunhill Championship after long-time leader Ernie Els suffered a dramatic collapse on the last hole.

The South African, bidding to win the tournament for a fourth time, started the final day on top of the leaderboard after a brilliant third round of 64.

Despite a bogey at the 16th, Els looked certain to lift the trophy again when he stood on the 18th tee with a comfortable two-shot cushion.

However, the three-time Major winner suddenly went into meltdown, twice finding the water around the green to score a triple-bogey eight.

Shock winner

It all meant that Bickerton - who was not even watching Els' misery unfold in the clubhouse after carding a second successive 68 - came out on top on 13-under-par.

The Englishman was as surprised as everyone else to find out he was the winner of the tournament, admitting he was convinced the best he could hope for was to finish second.

"I walked in and thought 'second was a good week'," he told Sky Sports.

"I didn't think I had a chance of winning. I thought I might have a chance of finishing second because I didn't know what Lee (Slattery) had done.

"But that's golf for you. This game throws up all sorts of things, and these are the sort of things you enjoy.

"It's fantastic (for me) but I do feel sorry for Ernie."

Shared second

Els' disastrous finish meant he ended with a 73 and a share of second spot with Englishman Slattery, who carded a one-under 71, on 12-under.

Holland's Joost Luiten followed his spectacular round of 64, which included a hole-in-one, on Saturday with a 67 that saw a run of three straight birdies at the start of the back nine.

His efforts over the final two days meant he finished out on his own in fourth spot on 11-under, two shots clear of his nearest rival, Ross McGowan.

The best score of the final day was carded by Austrian Martin Wiegele, though his bogey-free 66 was only enough to move him into a tie for 18th.