CRANS-SUR-SIERRE (Switzerland), Sept 7: World number two Ernie Els cruised to a six-stroke victory in the European Masters on Sunday, 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, 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 he then rode his luck before playing steadily over the closing holes.

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.

Leading final round scores

267 Ernie Els (South Africa) 65 69 68 65

273 Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 67 67 73 66

274 Eduardo Romero (Argentina) 66 67 67 74

275 Emanuele Canonica (Italy) 70 68 67 70, Andrew Coltart 70 72 66 67, Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 65 66 71 72

276 Peter Hedblom (Sweden) 67 68 71 70

277 Paul Eales 66 69 75 67, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 69 69 72 67, David Lynn 70 69 69 69, Jarrod Mosely (Australia) 71 68 68 70, Paul Casey 68 70 67 72, David Howell 68 69 67 73, Brain Davis 70 66 68 73 278 Nathan Fritz (U.S.) 70 66 74 68, Marten Olander (Sweden) 70 70 70 68, Marc Farry (France) 66 73 66 73, Raphael Jacquelin (France) 69 67 68 74

Tanaka leads

HAMILTON (Canada): Hidemichi Tanaka converted an up-and-down performance into a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Canadian Open on Saturday.

Tanaka had six birdies, five bogeys and one eagle, at the 17th hole, in carding a 67 to stand on seven-under 203 and regain the lead he held after the first round.

Third round scores

203 Hidemichi Tanaka (Japan) 66 70 67

205 Tom Pernice Jr 68 72 65, Brad Faxon 67 72 66, Fred Funk 69 68 68, Charles Howell III 67 68 70

206 Bob Tway 70 70 66

207 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 75 67 65, Steve Allan (Australia) 72 66 69

208 Dennis Paulson 74 69 65, Paul Goydos 71 70 67, K.J. Choi (Korea) 71 70 67, Garrett Willis 70 69 69, Chris Riley 69 70 69, Mike Springer 72 67 69, Mike Weir (Canada) 69 69 70, Loren Roberts 70 67 71.—Reuters