With this win Ernie Els secured his 17th European Tour International Schedule victory in his 153rd European Tour event and his fourth victory world wide in 2004, following the Heineken Classic on The European Tour International Schedule and the Sony Open in Hawaii and Memorial Tournament on the US PGA Tour.
Wins his 51st professional title world wide
Collects his first individual victory in the World Golf Championship series, (did win the WGC – The World Cup with Retief Goosen in 2001) beating his previous best performance in a WGC individual event of fourth in the 2001 WGC – Accenture Match Play
Only the second European Tour Member, following Darren Clarke (2000 WGC – Accenture Match Play and 2003 WGC – NEC Invitational) to win a WGC individual event
Moves to €15,205,218 in European Tour Official Earnings. Scotland’’s Colin Montgomerie is the only other player to pass €15million
Now has an average of winning €99,381 per event from his 153 European Tour career events
The 62nd South African win on The European Tour
The sixth multiple winner on the 2004 European Tour International Schedule following, Miguel Angel Jiménez (Johnnie Walker Classic, Algarve Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos, BMW Asian Open and BMW International Open), Trevor Immelman (South African Airways Open, Deutsche Bank – SAP Open TPC of Europe), Retief Goosen (US Open Championship, Smurfit European Open), Luke Donald (Scandinavian Masters by Carlsberg, Omega European Masters) and Padraig Harrington (Omega Hong Kong Open, Linde German Masters)
His 12th top ten finish from his 13 European Tour events in 2004 and 83rd of his European Tour career
Moves to €3,368,121 on the 2004 Volvo Order of Merit – a new record for a single season earnings, beating the figure of €3,125,147 set by Lee Westwood in 2000
Has averaged €259,086 per event from his 13 tournaments on The 2004 European Tour to date
First professional victory in Ireland
Has now won professional tournaments in ten countries: Australia, Dubai, England, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Switzerland and United States
The 17th time the final round leader has gone onto win on The European Tour in 2004
