Els closes in on Match Play title

South Africa’s Ernie Els stayed on course to win his fourth World Match Play Championship crown, moving three ahead of Spaniard Sergio Garcia after the first 18 holes.

Els fired a seven-under-par 65 in damp conditions at Wentworth’s West Course and seemed set to run away with the title before back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 slowed his progress. The world number three, who reached the turn in an impressive five-under-par 30, also collected seven birdies and an eagle while Garcia mixed 15 pars with an eagle and two birdies in a blemish-free 68.