Ernie Els, revealed he ‘owes’ fellow former major champion Mark O’Meara, after again denying long-time arch rival Colin Montgomerie to capture the Champions Tour SAS Championship at Cary, North Carolina.

Els, and who turns 51 on October 16th, holed a monster 40-foot birdie putt at the final hole in a round of a six-under par 66 for a 12-under par tally.

Monty, out in the last group and three groups behind Els, failed to birdie the par-5 17^th and the easiest hole on the course ahead of a closing par in a two-under par 70 for an 11-under total.

CLUTCH! 💪@TheBig_Easy drains a 40-foot birdie to take the lead at the 18th. pic.twitter.com/GxlFsceFwF

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) October 11, 2020

Els has notably denied Monty victory in both the 1994 and 1997 U.S. Open championships.

The win is Els’ second on the Champions Tour and the 74^th win of his pro career.

And Els revealed the ‘outside’ assistance afforded him as a key to his second Champions Tour win and the 74th victory of his pro career.

“You know, my good friend Mark, Mark O’Meara, just by chance I saw him on the putting green the other day and we just started chatting a little bit,” said Els.

“And he uses the same putter that I use, so we started talking a little bit and I said, hey, have a look here. I didn’t have a great experience at Pebble obviously a couple weeks ago.

“You know, he looked at me, and he’s a great putter and knowing a man that long, he gave me a nice assist. He told me what he felt I should do and here I am.  So I owe Mark O’Meara.

“Thank you, Mark.”