Els peaks perfectly in the Alps

European MastersWorld number two Ernie Els cruised to a six-stroke victory in the European Masters, at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland yesterday, increasing his lead in the order of merit.

The South African clinched his sixth title of the season with a six-under-par 65 to finish on 17-under-par 267 at the Alpine course, six shots better than New Zealand's Michael Campbell, with Argentine Eduardo Romero a further stroke back in third.

The 33-year-old Els imposed his authority with four early birdies to pass overnight leader Romero and then rode his luck before playing steadily over the closing holes.

"I lost a bit of rhythm after my brilliant start," said Els, who also enjoyed a stroke of luck on the 12th when his ball hit a spectator's head instead of heading way left.

"But I finally got my putting stroke back this week," he added. "If I could have putted like this at the US PGA I would have been in with a chance."

Romero's dream of becoming the European Tour's oldest winner at the age of 49 ended with a closing 74, the Argentine failing to make a single birdie in his final round.

Romero never contended after having to wait for lengthy rulings for his playing partners at the fourth and fifth holes.

First Swede Robert Karlsson, who double-bogeyed the second hole, needed chief tour referee John Paramor after hitting into trees at the fourth and Paramor was again called by Els at the fifth.

The South African put his second shot into a spinney but found his ball against a bench and after three free drops because of line-of-sight rulings he pitched onto the green from the sixth tee.

Els, who sunk three putts of around 10 feet during his fast start, then saved par from 25 feet and never allowed his lead to dwindle to less than three strokes with a stunning putting display.

His 15th European Tour victory and 46th worldwide took him more than $600,000 ahead of his nearest money-list rival Darren Clarke.

He has two big-money events left on the European Tour, the Dunhill Links Championship and WGC American Express Championship.

"It's a little early but if I play the way I should play I should be fine," Els said. "Clarkey and Thomas Bjorn have got to win big ones now."

Campbell was left to regret a third-round 73 that left him too much to do.

"I bogeyed the first three holes yesterday and got myself behind the eight-ball," said the New Zealander after closing with a 66.

Karlsson, Italian Emanuele Canonica and Britain's Andrew Coltart tied for fourth place to be Europe's top Ryder Cup points-earners in the first qualifying tournament for next year's match against the United States.