‘This morning I couldn’t put a thumb on the club at all’, said Harrington, ‘Starting out, it was awkward to say the least. But I really didn’t play too badly … Ernie didn’t give me any opportunities and I made a couple of mistakes.’

Els was also reminded that Westwood is an opponent that he has yet to beat round Wentworth in the World Matchplay, and Westwood was equally positive for the Sunday –

‘I have a good record against Ernie. I think I am a good manoeuverer of the ball and this is a players course, a shot makers course’, said the Worksop star.

‘All thanks to David and Steve Hanson who have worked on my fitness, which has enabled me to swing the club more athletic. I just don’t know if I’m getting more turn, but its a tighter turn and I’m swinging the club a bit shorter but still creating more power.’

The morning 18 was a testament to Westwood’s length and confidence as he was up with Els and past the 2004 Champion from the tee and able to take advantage of some of the five Els bogies posted in the morning. Westwood held a 1 up lead for much of the morning until Els made a huge putt for an eagle at the 12th, with Westwood a third of the distance to the hole.

From then on in, it was jousting and sparring, including a half in bogeys as each player missed a number of short putts throughout the 18 with Westwood staying out from just 3 ft at the last par three on the back nine.

Westwood went 1 up with a chip approach to the 16th, rather than a full blooded wedge shot which all the players were anxious to avoid on heavy greens which would result in spin they could not control. A number of pins were also well back leaving players no option but to use a running shot as there was no green behind the flag in which to land the ball.

On the 17th, Westwood handed that lead back to Els with a pull from the tee leaving Els able to play conservatively for a five. The 18th was halved in birdies after a relative sprint round by the finalists (compared with the speed of play in some of the earlier matches) giving the players an hour for a ‘proper’ Wentworth lunch.

Ernie Els had not played very well in the morning round of any of his earlier matches, seeming to ‘shift gears’ for after lunch. The 1st was not of the calibre of golf that either player would have wanted, with Westwood missing again from short range for a win, only a second three putt in the whole week.

The 2nd was halved then Els seemed to be making a winning move with a 6 iron to 8ft at the 3rd (their 21st) and a 5 iron to 12ft at the next. That birdie eagle run took Els to two up.

Westwood responded superbly, hitting it 3ft from the flag at the 5th (and making the putt). An Els clutch putt from 9ft at the 6th was crucial, as was the luck for Westwood as a pulled lay-up to the 7th fairway ran into the middle of the little bridge over a stream. Westwood had no problems with his stance and was able to save par.

This was the best weather of the week although a breeze was making club judgement more difficult and holes such as the 9th and 12th were playing long. The 10th was therefore downwind and with a back right pin, hard to get to, and a such to cost Lee another hole. With Els in the trees on the 12th, the opportunity was there for a hole back to the Englishman – a miss from 10ft four for win and it was Els still 2 up with just 6 left.

Westwood was wide left at the 13th and recovered well to the same spot he had found in the morning leaving himself a very tricky and fast pitch. He did much better with his attempt than before lunch, and he needed to, to find a win. There would be another half at the 14th.

Something special was needed and after a mishit drive on the 15th which still went straight, Westwood stuffed a 6 iron to 2 ft – back to 1 down for the so far winless in 2004 Westwood.

In the morning round, both players used a run-up shot to try and get close to the back flag at the 16th, their 33rd. This time, neither player was as far down the fairway. Westwood had the better line and from 130 yards to go decided on a wedge. That shot selection had too much spin and drew back 30 yards. Els played a softer shot in to 12ft and two putted. Lee three putted after going 6ft past.

On the 35th the finalists hit three woods from the tee. Els could not get up in two where as Westwood could and duly two putted from 27ft. Els had not had the run he expected from his chip out of the rough and was some distance away. It was a putt he had practised at lunchtime, just outside the left lip. For the Championship and £1M, it never looked anywhere but in the hole – a 6 wins to eclipse both Gary Player and

Watching Seve Ballesteros.

This was not the final full of fireworks of some previous championship deciders. After all the rain of the week gone, the superb Wentworth greens had stood up so well and were now drying out leaving the footmarks of the two players and their caddies there for all to see. It might have been this visibility that put a doubt in the players mind – it was not the surfaces themselves as nothing bobbled off line. It might have been the drying that made the breaks for the subtle slopes of these old greens less than expected – whatever the cause, only Els from from 18ft to win the 2004 HSBC World Matchplay was a putt of any length holed.

‘I ran out of a bit of steam’, said Westwood.

‘This place is home’, said the Champion, ‘We came here the Monday after the World Matchplay when I lost to Lee, in 1998. We toured around the estate and we walked through the drive of the house we bought, I said to my wife Liezel “Don’t give the state agent a sniff – but this is it1”’

‘I had a chance to win four in a row when Vijay beat me 1up – all that day I was thinking about that opportunity.

‘I won more this week with grit than with flair – winning is one thing that I really like – I don’t like losing and I know how Lee is feeling tonight. 6 of these – it’s a wonderful experience!’